outline  studies  in 

The  New  Testament 

for  bible  teachers 


*/  By 

JESSE  L.  HURLBUT,  D.D. 


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OUTLINE  STUDIES 

IN 

THE  NEW  TESTAMENT 

FOR 

BIBLE  TEACHERS 


By 

JESSE  LYMAN  HURLBUT.  D.D. 


New   York:    EATON  &  MAINS 
Cincinnati  :    JENNINGS  &  GRAHAM 


Copyright,   1906,  by 
KATON  &  MAINS. 


CONTENTS 


Page 
Prefatory 5 

Hints  to  Students 7 

Hints  to  Teachers -. 9 

The  Course  Divided  into  Lessons 11 

I.     The  Land  of  Palestine 13 

II.     The  People  of  Palestine 19 

III.  The  Life  of  Christ 25 

IV.  The  Thirty  Years  of  Preparation 30 

V.     The  Year  of  Obscurity 35 

VI.     The  Year  of  Popularity 40 

VII.     The  Year  of  Opposition 48 

VIII.     The  Week  of  the  Passion 54 

IX.     The  Day  of  the  Crucifixion 58 

X.     The  Forty  Days  of  Resurrection 64 

XI.     The  New  Testament  World 68 

XII.     The  Synagogue 73 

XIII.  The  Church  in  Judea 76 

XIV.  The  Church  in  Transition 83 

XV.  The  Church  Twenty  Years  after  the  Ascension  89 

XVI.     The  Preparation  of  Paul  for  His  Work 93 

XVII.     The  Church  Among  the  Gentiles 99 

XVIII.     The  End  of  the  Age 106 


PREFATORY 


There  is  no  book  in  the  world  which  repays  earnest  study  so 
abundantly  as  the  Holy  Bible.  Even  the  cursory  reader  who  pos- 
sesses a  candid  mind  can  gather  many  precious  thoughts  from  its 
pages;  and  he  who  turns  to  it  for  guidance  in  life,  however  ignorant 
he  may  be,  will  never  be  led  astray.  But  as  the  precious  metal  lies 
hidden  in  the  mountains,  and  must  be  sought  out  by  the  miners,  so 
the  treasures  in  the  Word  of  Life  are  found  only  by  those  who 
search  diligently  for  them.  He  who  not  only  reads  but  studies  the 
Scriptures  finds  an  abundant  reward.  There  is  need  in  our  age  of 
searchers  in  the  Bible,  who  shall  bring  out  of  its  treasure-house 
things  new  and  old. 

In  the  old  Bible  the  most  important  themes  are  those  which 
gather  around  the  God-man,  Jesus  Christ.  His  coming  to  earth 
was  the  culmination  of  all  prophecy,  the  focus  of  all  history,  and 
the  center  of  all  doctrine ;  and  the  church  which  he  founded  has  been 
for  nineteen  centuries  the  inspiration  of  the  world's  progress. 
There  are  two  subjects  in  the  New  Testament  with  which  every 
follower  of  Christ  should  be  thorovighly  acquainted,  and  they  are  its 
two  most  prominent  themes  :  the  life  of  Christ  on  earth,  and  the 
growth  of  the  early  church.  In  the  life  of  Christ  he  should  know 
the  order  of  the  leading  events;  he  should  grasp  its  principles,  and 
should  enter  into  its  spirit.  Only  as  we  apprehend  Christ  can  we 
comprehend  the  truths  taught  and  inspired  by  Christ. 

But  our  work  as  New  Testament  students  must  not  end  with  the 
story  of  Christ's  ascension  from  earth.  Jesus  left  behind  him  a 
little  church,  of  only  one  hundred  and  twenty  members,  which  in 
seventy  years  overswept  all  the  lands  of  the  greatest  empire  then 
on  the  earth,  and  which  now  covers  nearly  all  the  world.  Of  that 
church  we  are  members,  inheritors  of  its  traditions,  its  doctrines, 
and — best  of  all — its  spirit.  It  should  be  our  delight  to  trace  the 
steps  of  its  early  progress,  to  see  how  its  plans  grew  with  the  ad- 

5 


Prefatory 

vancing  years,  and  how  an  obscure  company  of  Jewish  disciples 
became  a  church  of  world-wide  reach. 

To  enable  a  student  to  obtain  this  knowledge  this  book  has  been 
prepared.  The  earlier  studies  on  the  life  of  Christ  have  been  pub- 
lished as  Studies  in  the  Four  Gospels,  but  have  been  carefully  re- 
vised and,  in  the  author's  judgment,  improved.  The  studies  on  the 
early  church  are  the  outgrowth  of  work  begun  many  years  ago,  fre- 
quently revised,  taught  to  classes  many  times,  and  carefully  re- 
studied  in  the  light  of  the  most  recent  researches  in  the  domain  of 
early  church  history. 

These  chapters  are,  as  their  titles  indicate,  studies;  designed,  not 
forreading,  but  for  study.  This  book  does  not  undertake  to  bea  life 
of  Christ,  and  a  history  of  the  early  church, to  be  read.  It  simply 
extends  a  helping  hand,  and  holds  out  to  the  student  a  clue  by 
means  of  which  he  can  form  his  own  life  of  Christ  and  prepare  for 
himself  a  history  of  the  early  church.  Wherever  a  fact  can  be 
learned  by  searching  out  a  Scripture  reference  the  fact  is  not  stated, 
but  the  reference  is  given.  Every  text  referred  to  should  be  searched 
out,  as  these  texts  contain  the  essential  facts  of  this  book.  Who- 
ever would  use  these  studies  rightly  must  pursue  them  with  the 
Bible  close  at  hand,  and  must  consult  his  Bible  more  frequently 
than  this  text-book. 

There  are  a  million  and  a  half  Sunday  school  teachers  who  should 
be  acquainted  with  the  story  of  Christ  and  his  church:  and  there  are 
several  millions  of  young  people  in  our  Sunday  schools  who  may  be 
teachers  before  many  years  and  need  the  same  knowledge.  This 
book  has  been  prepared  in  the  hope  that  these  teachers  and  young 
people  may  find  it  a  help  to  know  Him  who  is  the  head  of  the  church; 
and  to  understand  the  church,  which  is  the  pillar  and  ground  of 
truth. 

Jesse    L.  Hurlbut. 

January  3,  1906. 


HINTS   TO   STUDENTS 


Those  who  desire  merely  to  read  this  book,  or  to  look  it  over,  will 
not  find  it  interesting.  Those  who  already  know  how  to  study  will 
not  need  these  hints,  and  can  use  the  book  in  their  own  way.  But 
there  are  many  who  desire  to  study  these  subjects  carefully  and  yet 
do  not  know  precisely  how  to  do  the  work.  For  these  students, 
earnest,  but  untrained,  these  hints  are  given. 

i.  These  studies  should  be  pursued  with  the  Bible  close  at  hand, 
so  that  every  Scripture  reference  may  be  at  once  searched  out  and 
read. 

2.  Begin  each  lesson  by  a  general  view ;  reading  it  through  care- 
fully, and  memorizing  the  leading  divisions  of  the  outline,  which  are 
indicated  by  the  Roman  numerals  I,  II,  III,  etc.  This  will  give  the 
general  plan  of  the  lesson. 

3.  Now  take  up  Part  I  of  the  lesson  in  detail;  notice  and  mem- 
orize its  subdivisions,  indicated  by  1,  2,  3,  etc.,  and  search  out  all 
the  Scripture  references  cited  in  it.  If  practicable,  write  out  on  a 
sheet  of  paper  the  reference  (not  the  language  of  the  text  in  full) , 
and  what  each  reference  shows.  Thus  with  references  in  the 
Second  Study,  page  17,  Section  I,  Origin.  1.  Semitic.  (Gen.  12. 
1-3)  God's  call  and  promise  to  Abram.  (Gen.  17.  1-8)  The  call 
repeated ;  name  changed  to  Abraham.  (James  2.  23)  The  Friend 
of  God.      (Gen.    iS.    in:      "He  will  command  his  children,"  etc.) 

In  this  manner  write  out  all  the  facts  ascertained  from  all  the 
references  in  the  section. 

4.  It  would  be  a  good  plan  to  write  out  in  full,  as  a  connected 
statement,  all  the  facts  in  the  section. 

5.  In  like  manner  study  out  and  write  out  all  the  facts  obtained 
by  a  study  of  the  lesson  and  the  text  cited  in  it.  This  will  greatly 
aid  the  memory  in  holding  fast  to  the  information  gained. 

6.  Having  done  this,  look  at  the  blackboard  outline  at  the  end 
of  the  study  and  see  if  you  can  read  the  outline  of  the  lesson  by  the 

7 


8  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

aid  of  the  catch-words  and  indications  which  it  affords.  Study  the 
lesson  until  you  can  read  Li  with  the  blackboard  outline,  and  then 
recall  it  without  the  outline 

7.  Mow  take  up  the  questions  for  review.  Read  them  over,  one 
by  one,  and  sec  if  youcan  answer  them.  To  many  of  them  the 
answer  is  not  given  in  the  text-book,  but  it  will  be  found  in  the 
Scripture  references  when  searched  out.  Do  not  cease  your  study 
until  every  question  can  be  answered  from  memory. 

8.  Frequently  review  the  lessons  already  learned.  Before  be- 
ginning the  third  study  review  the  first  and  sec<  >nd  ;  before  the  fourth, 
review  the  first .  second  and  third;  and  at  the  completion  of  the 
course  review  them  all.  The  knowledge  gained  by  this  thorough 
study  will  more  than  compensate  for  the  time  and  trouble  which  it 
requires. 


HINTS  TO  TEACHERS 


Classes  may  be  organized  on  various  plans  and  out  of  varied 
materials  for  the  study  of  these  lessons. 

i.  A  teachers'  class,  composed  of  teachers  and  also  of  senior 
scholars  in  the  Sunday  school,  may  be  formed  to  study  the  life  of 
Christ,  which  is  one  of  the  most  important  subjects  in  the  Bible. 
This  may  meet  on  an  evening,  or  an  afternoon,  and  devote  all  the 
session  to  the  study  of  the  lesson- and  to  discussions  upon  it. 

2.  In  many  places  a  teacher?'  meeting  is  held  for  the  study  of  the 
International  Lesson  as  a  preparation  for  the  Sunday  school  class. 
A  part  of  the  time  might  be  taken  at  this  meeting  for  the  study  of 
these  subjects.  In  that  case  it  would  be  well  to  follow  the  division 
into  lessons,  as  given  on  pages  9,  10. 

3.  A  normal  class  may  be  organized  among  the  brightest  scholars 
in  the  Sunday  school,  who  should  be  trained  to  become  teachers. 
This  normal  class  may  meet  on  an  afternoon,  or  an  evening,  or  may 
take  the  lesson  period  in  the  Sunday  school  session. 

4.  These  studies  may  be  pursued  by  the  young  people's  society 
of  the  church,  or  by  a  class  formed  under  its  auspices,  meeting  at 
such  time  and  place  as  shall  be  found  most  convenient. 

There  are  two  methods  in  which  these  lessons  may  be  taught: 
One  is  the  lecture  method,  by  which  the  instructor  gives  the  lesson  to 
the  class  in  the  form  of  a  lecture,  placing  the  outline  upon  the  black- 
board as  he  proceeds,  calling  upon  the  students  to  read  the  texts 
cited,  and  frequently  reviewing  the  outline  in  a  concert  drill.  By 
this  method  the  students  may  or  may  not  have  the  books,  as  they 
and  the  instructor  prefer.  While  it  is  not  necessary  to  supply  the 
class  with  the  text-book,  it  will  be  a  good  plan  to  do  so.  Some  lec- 
turers prefer  to  have  the  books  closed  while  the  lecture  is  being  given ; 
but  others  desire  to  have  the  students  vise  the  outline  in  the  book 
as  a  syllabus,  enabling  them  to  follow  the  subject  more  closely. 

The  other  method,  simpler  and  easier,  is  to  let  the  student  have  a 

9 


io  Outline  Studies  in  the  New Testament 

copy  of  the  book,  to  expect  the  lesson  to  be  prepared  by  the  class, 
and  to  have  it  recited,  either  individually  or  in  concert.  Let  eaeli 
student  gain  all  the  information  that  he  can  upon  the  subjects  of  the 
lesson;  let  each  bring  his  knowledge  to  the  possession  of  all;  let  all 
talk  freely,  and  all  will  be  the  gainers. 

It  would  be  a  good  plan  to  have  papers  read  from  time  to  time 
upon  the  subjects  suggested  by  the  course  and  parallel  with  it. 

Some  teachers  and  classes  may  regard  the  contents  of  this  book  as 
too  extensive  and  may  prefer  a  shorter  course.  The  aim  of  the 
author  has  been  to  include  in  the  course  only  those  subjects  that 
are  essential  to  an  understanding  of  the  New  Testament,  and  the 
entire  series  of  lessons  is  recommended;  but  if  a  shorter  course  be 
deemed  abs<  >lutely  necessary,  two  plans  arc  suggested : 

i.  There  are  three  subjects  which  under  necessity  mighl  be 
omitted:  Second  Study,  The  People  of  Palestine;  Third  Study, 
General  View  of  the  Life  of  Christ ;  Twelfth  Study,  The  Synagogue. 
This  will  leave  fifteen  studies,  or  twenty-two  lessons. 

2.  Another  plan  might  be  undertaken:  to  take  up  as  a  course 
the  studies  on  the  life  of  Christ,  or  even  omitting,  as  above,  the 
second  and  third  studies,  making  eight;  and  to  leave  the  eigb.1 
studies  in  the  early  church — a  most  interesting  and  valuable 
subject — to  a  later  period. 


THE   COURSE   DIVIDED  INTO 
LESSONS 


For  the  convenience  of  teachers  and  classes,  the  eighteen  studies 
of  this  course  are  divided  into  twenty-five  lessons,  as  follows: 
Lesson      i.     The  Land  of  Palestine.      First  Study. 

The  People  of  Palestine.     Second  Study. 

The  Life  of  Christ — General  View.     Third  Study. 

The  Thirty  Years  of  Preparation.      Fourth  Study. 

The  Year  of  Obscurity.      Fifth  Study. 

The  Year  of  Popularity.      Sixth   Study.      Part    One. 

The  Year  of  Popularity.     Sixth  Study.      Part  Two. 

The  Year  of  Opposition.     Seventh  Study.      Part  One. 

The  Year  of  Opposition.     Seventh  Study.      Part  Two. 

10.  The  Week  of  the  Passion.      Eighth  Study. 

1 1.  The  Day  of  the  Crucifixion.     Ninth  Study. 

12.  The  Forty  Days  of  Resurrection.     Tenth  Study. 

13.  The  New  Testament  World.      Eleventh  Study. 

14.  The  Synagogue'.     Twelfth  Study. 

15.  The  Church  in  Judea.     Thirteenth  Study.     Part  One. 

16.  The  Church  in  Judea.     Thirteenth  Study.      Part  Two. 

17.  The  Church  in  Transition.      Fourteenth  Study. 

18.  The  Church  Twenty  Years   after  the  Ascension.     Fif- 
teenth Study. 

19.  The  Preparation  of  Paul  for  his  Work.      Sixteenth 
Study.      Part  One. 

20.  The   Preparation   of   Paul   for  his   Work.     Sixteenth 
Study.     Part  Two. 

21.  The  Church  among  the  Gentiles.      Seventeenth  Study. 
Part  One 


12  Outline  Studies  ]  x  t  he  N  e  w  T  e  st a m  e  n  t 

Lesson     22.  The  Church  among  the  Gentiles.     Seventeenth  Study. 
Part  Two. 

23.  The  Church  among  the  Gentiles.     Seventeenth  Si  udy. 
Part  Three. 

24.  The  End  of  the  Age.      Eighteenth  Study.     Part  One. 

25.  The  End  of  the  Age.      Eighteenth  Study.     Part  Two. 


FIRST  STUDY 
The  Land  of  Palestine 

In  the  historical  study  of  the  New  Testament  the  two  principal 
subjects  are,  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ  on  earth  and,  after  the  Ascen- 
sion, the  growth  of  the  Christian  church. 

The  life  of  Christ  was  passed  entirely  in  Palestine ;  and  we  there- 
fore begin  our  studies  with  a  view  of  that  land  as  it  was  in  our 
Saviour's  day. 

I.  It  was  an  oriental  land.  In  all  ages  the  boundaries  of  Pales- 
tine have  been  about  the  same,  though  the  dominion  of  its  rulers  has 
varied  according  to  their  power.  Palestine  Proper,  originally  the 
land  of  Canaan,  and  later  the  land  of  Israel,  or  the  Twelve  Tribes,  is 
located  near  the  south-eastern  corner  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea; 
having  Syria  and  Phoenicia  on  the  north,  the  great  Syrian  Desert  on 
the  east,  the  Sinai  tic  wilderness  on  the  soxith.  and  the  Med'terranean 
on  the  west.  Located  just  outside  the  tropics,  near  the  point  of  con- 
tact between  Asia  and  Africa,  it  belongs  to  the  Oriental  or  Eastern 
world. 

II.  It  was  a  small  land.  The  greatest  lands  have  not  always  been 
the  largest.  Greece,  no  larger  than  half  a  dozen  counties  in  America, 
is  greater  in  history  than  vast  China;  and  the  single  city  of  Rome 
won  and  held  the  empire  of  the  Mediterranean  lands.  Territorially 
the  whole  extent  of  Palestine  was  about  that  of  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut  united,  or  that  of  Switzerland,  in  Europe — about  12,500 
square  miles.  Its  sea-coast,  from  Tyre  to  Gaza,  is  140  miles  long; 
its  Jordan  line,  from  Mount  Hermon  to  the  foot  of  the  Dead  Sea,  is 
156  miles. 

III.  It  was  a  land  of  varied  natural  features.  There  is  a  regu- 
larity in  the  natural  conformation  of  Palestine  which  every  traveler 
notices.     The  country  lies  in  five  parallel  sections. 

1 .  Approaching  from  the  Mediterranean  one  meets  first  a  sea- 
coast  plain  two  or  three  miles  wide  at  the.  north,  but  widening,  as  it 
goes  southward,  to  nearly  twenty  miles  at  Gaza. 

13 


i4  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 


2.  Crossing  this  we  approach  the  Shephelah,  or  foot-hills;  a  ter- 
race of  low  hills,  from  300  to  500  feet  high. 

3.  Ascending  these  we  reach  the  mountain  region,  a  range  of 
mountains  broken  by  ravines  in  all  directions,  and  varying  from 
2,500  to  3,000  feet  high.  This  region  was  the  home  of  the  Israelites 
in  all  their  history.  They  were  always  a  mountain  people  and  never 
occupied  the  lower  plains  in  any  great  degree.  In  all  the  Bible 
times  the  plains  and  valleys  were  mainly  foreign  and  heathen  in 
their  population,  Avhile  the  mountains  were  Israelite  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment and  Jewish  in  the  New. 

4.  Crossing  the  mountains  we  descend  to  the  Jordan  valley, 
lower  than  the  sea  level  and  from  five  to  twenty  miles  wide.  Through 
this  runs  the  river  Jordan,  passing  through  two  lakes — Lake  Merom 
and  the  Sea  of  Galilee — and  emptying  into  the  Dead  Sea. 

5.  Beyond  the  valley  rises  the  eastern  table-land,  with  higher 
mountains,  but  more  level  summits,  and  broken  by  fewer  valleys. 
The  mountains  gradually  decline  to  the  great  Syrian  Desert  on  the 
east. 

IV.  It  was  a  Land  of  Five  Provinces.  In  the  time  of  Christ 
there  were  five  political  divisions  in  Palestine;  three  on  the  west 
side  of  Jordan  and  two  on  the  east. 

1.  On  the  north,  west  of  the  Jordan, 
was  the  province  of  Galilee,  situated  be- 
tween the  river  Jordan,  the  Sea  of  Galilee, 
the  land  o  f  Phoenicia  and  Mount 
Carmcl.  It  was  inhabited  by  a  brave, 
simple-hearted  people,  mainly  Jews,  but 
with  many  Gentiles  among  them.  Hence 
its  name  (Isa.  9.  1,  2;  Matt.  4.  15,  16);  and 
the  contempt  in  which  it  was  held  at 
Jerusalem.  (John  7.  41,  52.)  It  was 
the  home  of  Jesus  during  most  of  his  life 
and  ministry. 

2.  The  central  region  was  Samaria. 
See  its  location.     (John  4.    3,  4.)     It  was, 

strictly  speaking,  not  a  province  but  a  district  around  the  cities 
of  Shechem  and  Samaria,  not  extending  either  to  the  sea  or 
river,  and  of   uncertain   limits,  inhabited    by  a  composite  people, 


The  Land  of  Palestine  15 

partly  Israelite,  partly  heathen,  in  their  origin.  Note  the  claim 
of  its  people  (John  4.  12)  and  their  expectation.  (John  4.  25.) 
Observe  how  they  were  regarded  by  the  Jews.  (John  4.  9;  8.  48.) 
Notice  that  Christ  paid  no  regard  to  this  caste  prejudice. 
(John  4.    10.) 

3.  The  southernmost  province  of  Palestine  was  Judea.  As  the 
largest,  and  the  special  home  of  the  Jewish  people,  it  often  gave  its 
name  to  the  whole  land,  as  in  Mark  1.  5;  Luke  7.  17:  Acts  10.  37. 
Generally,  however,  it  is  distinguished  as  the  name  of  the  province, 
as  in  Luke  2.  4;  Matt.  2.  22;  John  4.  3.  Jesus  made  several  visits 
to  this  district,  especially  to  its  city,  but  only  for  limited  periods,  as 
its  people  were  more  bigoted  than  the  Galileans  and  bitterly  opposed 
to  him. 

4.  On  the  east  of  the  Jordan  and  the  Dead  Sea  was  the  province 
of  Peraja,  a  word  meaning  "beyond.  "  It  is  not  mentioned  by  that 
name  in  the  New  Testament.  Notice  what  it  is  called  in  Matt.  19.  1; 
Mark  10.  i.  We  read  of  a  visit  paid  by  Jesus  to  this  region  near 
the  close  of  his  ministry. 

5.  North  of  the  river  Hieromax,  and  east  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee, 
was  a  fifth  province,  the  ancient  land  of  Bashan,  "woodland," 
but  known  in  the  gospels  as  "  Philip's  tetrarchy.  "  Notice  how  it  is 
specified  in  Luke  3.  1.  Another  name  for  a  part  of  this  territory 
is  given  in  Matt.  4.  25;  Mark  5.  20;  7.  31.  Its  inhabitants  were 
mostly  Gentiles  or  heathen.  Twice  this  country  enjoyed  brief  visits 
from  Jesus,  each  marked  by  a  miracle  (Mark  5.    1-20;  7.   31-37). 

V.  It  was  a  Populous  Land.  We  can  only  note  the  places  referred 
to  in  the  gospel  history,  and  we  arrange  them  according  to  the  prov- 
inces. 

1.  In  Galilee  we  note  :  1.)  Nazareth,  due  west  of  the  southern 
end  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  the  early  home  of  Jesus  (Matt.  2.  23; 
Luke  2.  51).  2.)  Naint  south  of  Nazareth,  where  he  wrought  a 
miracle  (Luke  7.  11).  3.)  Cana,  north  of  Nazareth,  where  the  first 
miracle  was  wrought  (John  2.  1).  4.)  Capernaum,  on  the  Sea  of 
Galilee,  the  home  of  Jesus  during  most  of  his  ministry,  and  the 
scene  of  many  miracles  (Luke  4.   31 ;  Mark  2.1). 

2.  In  Samaria  we  note  two  places:  r.)  Shechem,  which  may 
be  the  place  referred  to  in  John  4.  5,  though  late  authorities  regard 
it  as  the  name  of  a  hamlet,  now  called  Iskar,  near  by.    2.)      Samaria, 


16  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

a  few  miles  north-west  of  Shechem,  the  early  capital  of  the  province, 
and  the  first  place  where  the  Gospel  was  preached  to  other  than  the 
Jews  (Acts  8.   5). 

3.  In  the  province  of  Judea  we  notice:  1.)  Jerusalem,  "the 
holy  city"  (Matt.  4.  5),  and  the  place  where  Jesus  was  crucified 
(Matt.  16.  21).  2.)  Bethany,  two  miles  east  of  Jerusalem  (John  11. 
18),  where  Jesus  was  entertained  by  Mary  and  Martha  (John  11.  1). 
Note  two  great  events  near  this  place  (John  11.  43;  Luke  24.  50, 
51).  3.)  Bethlehem,  six  miles  south  of  Jerusalem.  The  great  event 
in  its  history  (Matt.  2.  1.)  Itsancient  honor  (Luke  2.  4.)  4)  Hebron, 
the  ancient  capital  of  Judah,  a  priestly  city,  and  the  probable  birth- 
place of  John  the  Baptist  (Luke  1.  39,  40.)  5.)  Jericho,  eighteen 
miles  from  Jerusalem,  in  the  Jordan  valley,  visited  by  Jesus  near 
the  end  of  his  ministry  (Luke  19.  1).  6.)  Ephraim,  a  village 
fourteen  miles  north  of  Jerusalem,  the  hiding  place  of  Jesus  for  a 
brief  period  (John  11.    54). 

4.  In  the  province  of  Peraa  but  one  place  is  identified  as  con- 
nected with  the  life  of  Christ  :  Bethabara  (Revised  version,  "  Beth- 
any beyond  the  Jordan")  the  place  of  the  baptism  and  of  the  first 
disciples;  thirteen  miles   south  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 

5.  In  Philip's  tetrarchy,  east  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  we  note  three 
places:  1.)  Gesarea  Philippi,  at  the  foot  of  the  Mount  Hermon 
(Mark  8.  27;  9.  2).  2.)  Bethsaida,  at  the  head  of  the  Sea  of 
Galilee,  east  of  the  Jordan  (Luke  9.  10-13).  3.)  Gergesa  or 
Gerasa,  a  little  place  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee  (Matt . 
8.   28). 

VI.  It  was  a  Subject  Land.  Half  a  century  before  the  birth 
of  Christ  the  Jews  became  subject  to  Rome,  and  thenceforward 
various  changes  took  place  in  the  form  of  government  : 

1.  The  whole  land,  with  some  surrounding  provinces,  was  a 
kingdom  under  Herod  the  Great  (Matt.  2.  1),  but  tributary  to  the 
emperor  at  Rome  from  37  B.  C.  to  4  B.  C,  the  year  of  Christ V 
birth. 

2.  On  Herod's  death  it  was  divided  into  three  tetrarchies, 
'  fourth-part  rules."  Archelaus  became  tetrarch  of  Judea  and 
Samaria  (Matt.  2.  22);  Herod  Antipas  tetrarch  of  Galilee  and  Peraea 
(Matt.  14  1;  Luke  23.  6,  7);  Herod  Philip,  tetrarch  of  the  Bashan 
district  (Luke  3  1).  A  fourth  tetrarchy,  outside  of  Palestine,  "ii 
the  north,  was  held  by  Lysanias  (Luke  3.    1). 


The  Land  of  Palestine 


17 


ME  W  TESTAMENT 

PALESTINE 


3.  About  the  year  7  A.  D.,  when  Jesus  was  eleven  years  old, 
Archelaus  was  deposed  by  the  Roman  emperor  and  his  dominion 
made  a  province  under  a  Roman  procurator,  the  other  two  tetrarch- 
ies  remaining  undisturbed.  This  was  the  form  of  government 
during  the  ministry  of  Jesus,  Judea  and  Samaria  constituting  one 

Roman  province  under  Pon- 
tius Pilate  ;  Galilee  and 
Peraea,  Herod's  tetrarchy, 
and  Bashan,  Philip's  tet- 
rarchy. 

4.  In  the  year  37  the 
Roman  emperor  made 
Herod  Agrippa  I.  king  first 
over  Judea,  and  then,  in  4 1 , 
over  all  the  dominions  of 
his  grandfather,  so  that 
Palestine  became  a  king- 
dom again.  He  is  men- 
tioned in  Acts  12.   1. 

5.  On  Agrippa's  death, 
in  A.  D.  44,  a  new  division 
took  place.  Agrippa  II.,  son 
of  Agrippa  I . ,  became  ruler 
of  Chalcis  and  Bashan.  He 
is  called,  but  by  courtesy 
only,  "  King  Agrippa,"  in 
Acts  25.  13;  26.  1,  2.  The 
rest  of  Palestine,  consisting 
of  Judea,  Samaria,  and 
Peraea,  became  again  a  pro- 
curatorship  under  direct 
Roman  rule.   See  Acts    23. 


24;  24.   27. 
6.     On  the  rebellion  of  the  Jews,  A.  D.  66,  the  government    was 
again  changed.     Palestine  became  a  part  of  Syria,  under  Vespasian, 
he   legate.     This  was  the  end  of  Jewish    history    as   a    separate 
nationality. 

Suggestions  for  Study  and  Teaching 
1.      Study  carefully   a   good   map   of    Palestine   and   learn    from    it   the   bound- 


18  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

aries   and   location   of  the   land.      Memorize   the   dimensions   and   distances   given 
in   the   outline. 

2.  Draw  a  map  showing  the  five  natural  divisions  in  Par.  111.,  and  learn 
their  names. 

3.  Indicate  on  your  own  map  the  five  provinces,  comparing  the  best  maps 
at  hand   to   find   their   boundary   lines. 

4.  Locate  on  your  own  map  all  the  places  named  in  Par.  Y.,  and  fie  able 
to  name  an  event  connected  with  each,  studying  the  references  for  this  purpose. 

5.  Be  sure  to  examine  all  the  references,  and  state  what  fact  each  reference 
shows  concerning  a  locality. 

6.  Draw  in  succession  five  sketch  maps,  each  to  represent  the  political 
government  of  a  period.  Write  across  each  province  the  name  of  a  ruler. 
Map  No.  1  will  represent  it  at  the  birth  of  Christ.  No.  2,  during  the  child- 
hood of  Christ.  Map  No.  3,  during  his  ministry.  No.  4,  about  A.  1).  41. 
No.    5,   from  42  to  66  A.    I).      Look   out   all  the   references   given   in    Par.    VI. 

Blackboard  Outline 


I.     Orien.  L.  Bound.    X.  S.  P.    E.  S.  D.     S.  S.  W.    W.  M.  S. 
II.     Sm.  L.     S.  M.  12,500.     S.  C.  140.     J.  L.  156. 

III.  Var.  Nat.  Fea.     S.  C.  P.     Sh.     M.  R.     J.  V.     E.  T.  L. 

IV.  Fiv.  Prov.      Gal.      Sam.      Jud.      Per.      Bash. 
V.     Pop.  L.     Gal.  N.  N.  C.  C.  Sam.  Sh.   Sa.  Jud.  J.  B.  B.  II. 

J.  E.     Per.  B.     Ph.  Tct.  C.  P.  B.  G. 
VI.     Sub.    L.      1.   Km.      2.  Tetr.     3.   Prov.     4. 

Kgm.      5.   "  K«.  Ag."     Rom.  Proc      fi.    Part  of  Svr. 

* * 

Questions  for  Review 

Why  do  we  need  to  study  the  land  of  Palestine?  What  were  the  boundaries 
of  Palestine?  Where  is  it  located?  Name  some  small  countries  which  have 
been  prominent  in  history.  What  is  the  size  of  Palestine?  How  long  is  the 
coast-line?  The  Jordan  line?  What  are  the  five  natural  divisions  of  the  land? 
Name  and  bound  each  of  the  political  divisions.  In  which  of  these  provinces 
was  Jesus  born?  In  which  did  he  pass  most  i>f  his  life?  In  which  was  he 
crucified?  Name  four  places  in  Galilee,  and  an  event  connected  witli  each? 
Two  places  in  Samaria,  and  their  events.  Six  places  in  Judea  and  their  events. 
One  place  in  Perea  and  three  in  Philip's  tetrarchy,  with  their  events.  State 
the  six  successive  forms  of  government  and  their  rulers  in  Palestine  during 
the    New   Testament   period. 


SECOND  STUDY 
The  People  of  Palestine 

In  all  the  ancient  world  there  was  but  one  people  among  whom 
Christ  could  have  come  with  his  revelation,  and  through  whom  his 
message  could  have  been  given  to  mankind.  That  people  was  the 
Jews,  in  certain  respects  the  most  remarkable  of  all  the  races. 

1.  We  notice  their  origin,  which  shows  a  series  of  selections  ex- 
tending through  many  centuries  and  a  training  for  their  peculiar 
mission. 

i.  Of  the  three  great  families  of  earth,  they  sprang  from  the 
Semitic,  which  has  been  the  mother  of  all  the  great  religions  of  the 
world;  a  thoughtful,  meditative  race,  rather  than  active  and  ag- 
gressive. 

2.  From  this  race  Abraham  was  called,  more  than  twenty  cen- 
turies before  Christ,  to  be  the  father  of  a  great  nation  (Gen.  12.  1-3; 
17.  1-8).  He  was  distinguished  for  his  worship  of  the  one  God,  for 
his  faith,  and  for  his  nobility  of  character.  Notice  his  title  in  Jas. 
2.  23;  a  name  bv  which  he  is  still  known  in  the  East,  el  Klialil, 
"  the  Friend.  "      His  influence  upon  his  family  (Gen.  18.    19). 

3.  Of  the  families  descended  from  Abraham  that  of  Isaac  was 
chosen  (Gen.  21.  12;  Rom.  9.  7).  All  the  other  races  of  Abrahamic 
origin  yielded  to  the  idolatrous  influences  around  them  and  lost  the 
knowledge  of  God. 

4.  Of  the  two  sons  of  Isaac  one  married  among  the  Canaanites, 
and,  as  a  result,  his  descendants  became  idolaters  (Gen.  26.  34,  35; 
36.  2).  The  other  chose  the  inheritance  of  the  covenant  (Gen. 
28.  20-22).  His  name  was  changed  (Gen.  32.  28;  35.  10).  His 
descendants,  the  Israelites,  trained  up  in  the  true  faith,  became  the 
people  of  God.  Each  of  his  twelve  sons  was  the  ancestor  of  a  tribe 
(Exod.  1.  1-7).  They  continued  one  people  for  a  thousand  years, 
though  part  of  the  time  divided  into  two  kingdoms. 

5  In  the  year  721  B.C.  ten  of  the  twelve  tribes  were  carried  into 
Assyrian  captivity  (2  Kings  17.    18-20).      Having  lost  their  religion, 

19 


so  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

the  only  bond  of  unity,  they  mingled  with  the  idolatrous  world  and 
ceased  to  be  a  separate  people.  The  tribe  of  Judah  was  left,  Ben- 
jamin being  incorporated  with  it.  Henceforth  they  were  railed 
"  the  Jews,"  a  name  found  first  in  2  Kings  18.   26. 

6.  Hut  through  all  the  history  of  Judah,  as  well  as  of  Israel,  there 
had  been  two  distinct  elements  in  (he  people:  the  worshipers  of  Cod 
and  of  idols;  the  religious  and  the  worldly.  In  order  to  separate 
these  elements,  to  cut  off  the  evil  and  to  discipline  the  good,  came 
the  Babylonian  captivity,  B.  *'.  587.  Through  this  the  idolatrous 
element  was  either  destroyed  or  assimilated  with  the  heathen  world. 
At  the  release  from  captivity,  B.  C.  536,  all  the  Jews  were  of  God- 
fearing, Scripture-loving  element.  This  was  the  Remnant,  the 
"holy  seed,"  the  true  Israel  (Isa.  6.   8-13). 

Thus,  out  of  all  the  world,  was  gradually  chosen  and  prepared  a 
people  among  whom  the  Lord  should  come. 

II.  Notice  their  traits  as  a  race,  for  which  they  were  chosen,  and 
which  were  intensified  by  their  training: 

1.  They  were  a  religious  people;  monotheistic;  worshiping  the 
one  invisible  God,  hating  idolatry.  See  the  command  (Exod.  20. 
3-6).  The  exhortation  of  Joshua  (Josh.  24.  14).  This  is  the  great 
glory  of  Israel  alone  among  the  ancient  nation 

2.  They  were  an  exclusive  people;  strongly  attached  to  each 
other,  and  seeking  no  affiliation  with  other  races.  Note  this  trait  in 
Abraham  (Gen.  24.  2-1).  Also  in  Isaac  (Gen.  28.  1,  2).  Set' 
Balaam's  prophecy  (Num.  23.  9).  To  this  day  the  Jews  dwell 
apart ;  in  mi  >st  European  cities  there  isa  "Jewish  quarter." 

3.  They  were  a  conservative  people;  attached  to  their  own  cus- 
toms, opposed  to  all  changes,  clinging  to  their  worship  despite 
persecution. 

4.  They  were  an  aspiring  people.  from  their  earliest  hist<>rv 
the  Jews  cherished  the  expectation  of  being  a  great  and  c<  mquering 
nation.  From  their  own  prophecies  they  obtained  the  hope  and 
belief  that  a  great  king  should  arise  among  them  to  rule  tlie  world. 
See  the  promises  in  Gen.  40.  10.  The  prophecy  in  Isa.  32.  1,  2. 
His  title  in  Dan.  q.  2".  The  word  "Messiah"  in  Hebrew  is 
"Christos"  in  Greek,  and  "Anointed"  in  English.  This  mes- 
sianic hope  was  the  central  thoughl  of  all  Judaism. 

5.  They  were  a  moral  people.      Their  Scripture  set     up  a  stan- 


The  People  of  Palestine  21 

dard  of  character  immeasurably  superior  to  that  in  other  ancient 
lands  Among  the  Jews  womanhood  was  honored,  drunkenness 
was  rare,  honesty  was  the  rule,  and  crime  was  far  less  frequent  than 
elsewhere. 

These  were  the  traits  that  made  the  Jews  the  people  of  God  and 
fitted  them  to  accomplish  the  divine  purpose. 

III.  What  was  that  purpose?  Every  race  has  its  mission  in  the 
world.  The  Greeks  were  set  to  exalt  the  intellect;  the  Romans, 
to  establish  the  reign  of  law.  We  notice  the  mission  of  the  Jewish 
people: 

1 .  To  perpetuate  the  knowledge  of  God-  In  the  general  wicked- 
ness of  the  world  and  the  spread  of  idolatry  there  was  danger 
lest  the  true  religion  be  utterly  lost.  Therefore  God  chose  out  one 
nation — the  one  having  the  traits  best  fitting  it  for  his  purpose — and 
set  it  apart  to  guard  the  holy  fire  of  divine  truth  until  the  rest  of  the 
world  should  be  ready  to  receive  it. 

1.  To  receive  training  for  higher  revelation.  The  higher  reve- 
lations of  God  can  come  only  to  a  people  whose  religious  faculties 
have  been  trained  to  receive  them.  Judaism  was  God"s  school 
where  a  chosen  race  was  educated.  They  received  the  Scriptures, 
the  prophets,  the  ritual  of  worship,  and,  above  all,  the  discipline 
of  trial,  fitting  them  to  become  "  a  nation  of  priests.  "  See  Paul's 
enumeration  of  their  privileges  in  Rom.  9.   4.  5. 

3.  To  proclaim  the  Gospel  to  the  world.  When,  in  the  fullness 
of  time,  Israel  was  trained  up  to  knowledge  and  the  outer  world 
prepared  to  receive  the  truth,  Christ  came  as  the  consummation  of 
Judaism.  Then  a  new  mission  opened  before  the  Jews — that  of  pro- 
claiming Christ  to  the  world.  The  little  company  of  disciples  were 
the  seed  that  should  replenish  the  whole  earth.  See  the  command. 
(Matt.  28.    19,  20.) 

IV.  We  notice  now  the  Jews  in  the  time  of  Christ. 

1 .  They  were  divided  into  two  great  branches;  the  Jews  of  Pales- 
tine and  the  Jews  of  the  Dispersion.  The  former  were  descendants 
of  those  who  had  settled  in  Palestine  after  the  decree  of  Cyrus, 
B.  C.  536  (Ezra  1.  1-3) ;  the  latter  those  who  remained  in  the  lands 
of  their  adoption,  were  found  all  over  the  ancient  world,  and  were 
far  more  numerous.  See  references  to  them  in  John  7.  35 ;  James  1. 
1;  1   Pet.   1.    1.     We  note  that  these  "Jews  of  the  Dispersion"  were 


22  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

no1   descendants  of  the  Ten  Tribes,  except   in  a  few  instances,  hut 
were  Jeivs — that  is,  descendants  of  Judah. 

2.  Noticing  now  the  Palestinian  Jews,  for  with  these  the  life  of 
Christ  was  mainly  connected,  we  find  them  divided  into  two  sects,  or 
schools  of  thought:  the  Pharisees  and  the  Sadducees.  These  two 
parties  arose  about  168  B.  C,  in  the  time  of  the  Maccabaean  upris- 
ing.     Let  us  look  at  them  in  contrast. 

i.)  Their  names  express  their  traits.  Pharisee  means  "sepa- 
ratist," "one  who  is  apart."  Sadducee  means  "just."  or 
"righteous,  "  but  rather  with  our  idea  of  the  word  "  moralist .  " 
2.)  Their  aims.  The  Pharisee  aimed  to  keep  the  Mosaic  law 
absolutely,  particularly  with  regard  to  ceremonial  recpiirc- 
ments;  to  do  more  than  obey  it,  by  setting  around  it  a  hedge 
of  traditional  interpretations  going  beyond  its  letter  in  strict- 
ness. The  Sadducee  professed  to  keep  the  law,  ignoring 
tradition,  but  gave  it  a  lax  and  easy  interpretation  which 
often  ignored  its  requirements. 
3.)  Their  spirit.  The  Pharisee  was  the  radical  and  zealot, 
showing  an  intense,  intolerant  Judaism.  The  Sadducee  was 
the  liberal  easy-going  man  of  the  world,  taking  the  world  as 
he  found  it. 
4.)  Their  beliefs.  The  Pharisee  believed  in  a  spiritual  world, 
heaven,  hell,  angels,  the  hereafter,  the  judgment.  The  Sad- 
ducee could  not  find  clear  statements  of  these  doctrines  in 
the  Old  Testament,  and  denied  them.  See  Matt.  22.  23; 
Acts  23.  8. 
5.)  Their  influence.  The  Pharisees  were  strong  in  the  syna- 
gogues, where  the  scribes  gave  their  interpretations,  and 
hence  were  powerful  among  the  people  as  leaders  in  religion 
The  Sadducees  were  the  smaller  body,  but  influential  from 
their  wealth  and  their  social  position,  for  the  high  priests  and 
all  the  priestly  order  belonged  to  them,  and  they  were  the 
office-holding  class,  the  court  party.  (Acts  4.  1,2:5.  11-) 
6.)  Their  evils.  The  evil  of  the  Pharisees  was  their  tendency 
to  make  religion  mere  hypocritical  formality,  so  often  re- 
linked by  Christ.  Sec  Matt.  23.  2-7.  The  evil  of  the  Sad- 
ducees was  their  utter  lack  of  moral  conviction,  from  world- 
liness  and  self-interest.  See  their  motive  for  putting  Christ 
to  death  (John  it.   47-50). 


The  People  of  Palestine  23 

3.  Thus  far  we  have  noticed  only  Jews,  but  there  were  also  in 
Palestine  many  Gentiles,  which  was  the  name  the  Jews  gave  to  all 
foreigners  or  people  of  race  other  than  themselves.  These  were  of 
three  classes,  called  respectively:  1.)  Sinners — That  is,  those  who 
made  no  attempt  to  observe  Jewish  usages.  See  Gal.  2.  15.  The 
same  name  was  given  to  the  Jews  who  did  not  imdertake  to  keep  the 
ceremonial  law,  without  reference  to  their  moral  character  (Matt. 
9.  10,11).  2.)  The  Devout.  Those  who  believed  in  the  Scriptures 
and  worshiped  God,  but  who  had  not  been  received  into  the  Jewish 
Church  by  circumcision.  Such  was  Cornelius  (Acts  10.  1,2).  3.) 
Proselytes — Such  as  renounced  Gentilism.  received  circumcision, 
and  obeyed  the  Jewish  law  (Acts  6.    5;  Matt.  23.    15). 

V.     The  Language  of  Palestine. 

1.  Originally  Hebrew;  still  read,  in  Christ's  time,  in  the  syna- 
gogue but  not  well  understood  and  requiring  an  interpreter. 

2.  Mostly  Aramaic,  or  Syro-Chaldaic — that  is,  Chaldaic  with 
Syrian  admixture;  the  common  dialect  of  the  people,  and  undoubt- 
edly spoken  by  Christ.  See  instances  in  Mark  7.  34;  1  5.  34.  This  is 
the  language  referred  to  in  John  19.  20,  21,  and  Acts  22.  2,  as 
"  Hebrew." 

3.  The  language  of  polite  literature  in  all  countries  was  Greek. 
strongly  opposed  by  the  Pharisees,  but  employed  by  the  Jews  of  the 
Dispersion,  and  used  in  the  courts  of  Herod  and  Pilate  (Acts  21.  37). 

4.  The  official  language  was  Latin,  that  of  the  Roman  Govern- 
ment, but  not  used  by  the  Jews,  and  not  generally  understood  by 
them. 

Blackboard  Outline 


* 

I. 

Origin — i.     Sem.      2.     Abr.       3.     Isa.       4.    Isr.    (12    t.) 
5.  Jud  (Jews).     6.   "Reran." 

-* 

II. 

Traits. — 1.     Rel.     2.  Exc.      3.   Cons.      4.  Asp.   "Mess." 
5.  Mor. 

III. 

Mission. — 1.     Per.     kno.      G.       2.    Rec.     tra.    hi.    rev. 
3.  Pro.  Gos.  wo. 

IV. 

Jews  Ti.  Chr. — 1.    Bran.  Pal.  Dis.      2.    Sec.  Phar.  Sadd. 
1.)  Nam.      2.)     Aim.     3.)  Spir.       4.)  Bel.      5.)   Inf. 
6.)  Evils.     3.  Gen.     1.)  Sin.     2.)  "Dev."    3.)  Pro. 

V. 

Lang. — 1.   Heb.     2.  Ara.    (Syr-Cha!.).     3.  Gre.     4.  Lat. 

*— 

-- 

* 

24  Outline  Studies  in  theNewTestament 

Questions  for  Review 
To  what  people  iliil  Jesus  Christ  belong?  Prom  what  great  family  of  races 
did  that  people  spring?  What  were  the  traits  of  this  race?  Who  was  the 
ancestor  of  the  Jews,  and  what  were  his  traits  of  character!'  How  were  the 
Jews  gradually  selected  from  among  the  descendants  of  Abraham?  To  which 
of  the  twelve  tribes  did  most  of  the  Jews  belong?  What  was  "the  remnant" 
in  Old  Testament  history?  Name  five  traits  of  the  Jews  as  a  people.  What 
was  the  mission  of  the  Jewish  people?  What  were  the  two  great  branches  of 
the  Jews  in  the  time  of  Christ?  What  were  their  two  sects?  What  were  the 
differences  between  these  sects?  Who  were  the  Gentiles?  Into  what  three 
classes  were  they  divided?  What  four  languages  were  found  among  the  Jews 
in  the  time  of  Christ? 


THIRD  STUDY 
The  Life  of  Christ 

The  central  figure  in  all  the  Bible  is  Jesus  Christ.  Note  his  im- 
portance in  the  Old  Testament  (John  5.  39;  Luke  24.  27;  Acts  10. 
43).  Note  his  prominence  in  all  true  gospel  teaching  (1  Cor.  2.  2). 
Note  his  relation  to  every  man  (John  1.  9.)  (Rev.  Ver.)  We  have, 
then,  an  interest  in  Jesus  Christ  deeper  than  in  any  other  man  who 
ever  lived. 

I.     Let  us  notice  some  General  Aspects  of  his  Life. 

1.  It  was  a  short  life.  This  man,  who  has  influenced  the  world 
more  than  any  other,  lived  less  than  thrty-five  years.  His  age  at 
the  beginning  of  his  ministry  we  learn  from  Luke  3.  23,  and  the  dur- 
ation of  his  ministry  was  not  more  than  three  years  and  a  half  at  the 
longest. 

2.  It  was  a  life  passed  wholly  in  Palestine.  Only  once  do  we 
read  of  his  journeying  near  any  other  country,  and  it  is  not  probable 
that  he  went  beyond  its  borders  (Mark  7.  24).  The  only  times  of 
direct  contact  with  Gentiles  are  mentioned  (Mark  7.  25,  26;  John  12. 
20-2.?).  He  never  enjoyed  the  benefits  of  foreign  travel,  of  com- 
munion with  learned  men  in  the  great  cities,  of  studies  at  the  uni- 
versities of  Athens  or  Alexandria.  All  his  knowledge  came  from 
within. 

3.  It  was  a  life  among  the  common  people.  He  lived  in  a  des- 
pised province  (John  7.  41,  52).  He  came  from  a  despised  town 
(John  1.  46).  He  was  a  working  mechanic  (Mark  6.  3).  He 
received  only  a  common  education  (John  7.  15).  His  manner  of  life 
during  his  ministry  (Matt.  8.  20).  Yet  out  of  these  lowly  surround- 
ings grew  up  the  one  exalted  character,  the  one  perfect  life,  in  all 
human  history. 

4.  It  was  an  active  life.  The  first  thirty  years  may  have  been 
spent  in  quiet  preparation,  but  the  three  years  of  his  ministry  were 
very  busy.  See  pictures  in  Mark  1 .  36-38,2.  1-4;  6.  31-34.  Notice 
the  hyperbole  in  John  21.   25,  which    is  not  to  be  taken  literally. 


26  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

But  if  the  whole  life  of  Jesus  were  related  with   the  minuteness  '>f 
the  day  between  the  sunset  of  the  Las1  Supper  and  thai  of  the  burial 

the  narration  would  require  one  hundred  and  eighty-fiye  books  as 
large  as  the  Bible. 

II.  Let  us  arrange  the  events  of  Christ's  life  in  chronological 
order,  grouping  them  into  Seven  Periods. 

i.  The  first  period  is  that  of  The  Thirty  Years  of  Preparation, 
of  which  we  notice  the  following  facts: 

i.)      It  begins  with  his  Birth  (Luke  2.    7),  and  ends  with  his 

Temptation  (Malt.  4.    1). 
2.)      It  is  related  mainly  by  Luke  (Luke  1-4)  with  some  faets 
in  Matthew  (Matt.   1.    2;  4.    1-11).  and  a  brief  mention  of  its 
closing  events  in  Mark  (Mark  1.   9-13). 
3.)      It   was  passed   mainly  in   Galilee,   though   with   isolated 
events  in  Judea,  in  Egypt  (Matt.   2.     14,  15),  and  in  Peraea. 
See  John  1.28. 
4.)      It  was  the  longest  of  all  the  periods,  embracing  nine  tenths 
of  his  life;  yet   it  is  the  one  having  the  fewest   incidents  re- 
corded; and  of  eighteen  years  in  it  absolutely  no  events  are 
known. 

2.  Next  is  The  Year  of  Obscurity.  In  this  and  the  two  succeeding 
periods  the  year  is  not  a  precise  epoch,  and  may  have  been  a  little  less 
or  a  little  more. 

1.)  It  begins  with  the  first  followers  (John  1.  35-37),  and 
ends  with  the  return  to  Galilee  (John  4.   43.  4  \) . 

2.)  It  is  related  only  by  John,  who,  of  all  the  gospel  writers, 
records  the  visit  of  Jesus  to  Judea  and  Jerusalem, 

3.)  It  was  passed  principally  in  Judea,  though  with  visits  to 
Galilee,  and  on  the  way  a  visit  to  Samaria. 

4.)  It  is  justly  called  a  "year  of  obscurity,"  for  we  know  but 
lit  tie  concerning  either  its  rums,  its  events,  or  its  results  It 
was  accompanied  with  miracles  (John  3.  2;  4.45)  It 
attracted  attention  (John  3.  26;  4.  1).  Yet  at  its  close  we 
find  that  the  followers  of  Jesus  were  few,  and  he  went  to 
Galilee  to  begin  his  ministry  anew. 

3.  The  Year  of  Popularity,  in  marked  contrast  with  the  preced- 
ing period. 

1.)     It  begins  with  the  Rejection  at  Nazareth  (Luke  4.   14-30), 


The  Life  of  Christ  27 

and  ends  with  the  Discourse  on  the  Bread  of  Life  (John  6. 
25-71),  a  day  or  two  after  the  miracle  of  Feeding  the  Five 
Thousand. 
2.)     It  is   related   by    Matthew,  Mark,  and  Luke,  with  some 

additional  incidents  by  John. 
3).     The  scene  of  the  Saviour's  ministry  was  in  Galilee,  which 
he  traversed  extensively  during  this  year.     One  visit  to  Jer- 
usalem is  related  by  John  (John  5 .   1,2). 
4.)     It  was  a  year  of  great  activity,  spent  in  incessant  journeys, 
preaching,  and  works  of  mercy,  and  the  most  popular  period 
of  the  Saviour's  life,  when  the  crowds  were  greatest  and  the 
people  seemed  readv  to  accept  Jesus  as  .the  Messiah  of  Israel. 
Vet  at  its  close,  as  before,  he  was  left  alone  with  his  twelve 
disciples    (John    6.   66-68). 
4.     Another  period  we  find  in   The   Year   of   Opposition,    again 
contrasted  with  the  year  before  it. 

1.)      It  begins  with  the  Retirement  to  rhcenieia  (Mark  7.  24) 

and  ends  with  the  Anointing  by  Mary  (John  12.    1-3). 
2.)      It  is  recorded  in  all  the  gospels    in  almost  equal  measure, 
Luke  giving  the  most  complete  account  of  the  ministry  in 
Perasa,  and  John,  as  usual,  relating  the  visit  to  Judea. 
3.)     This  period  is  peculiar  in  the  fact  that  in  it  Jesus  visited 
all  the  five  provinces  of  Palestine.     We  find  him  in  Decapolis 
(which  was  a  part  of  the   Bashan  district)     (Mark  7.   31); 
passing  through  Galilee  (Mark  9.  30);   also  through  Samaria 
(Luke  9.   51,    52);   in    Pertea  (Mark    10.    1),    and    in   Judea 
(John  11.   7). 
4.) *  This  part  of  the  Saviour's  life  has  been  variously  charac- 
terized as  "a  ministry  of  sorrow  and  humiliation,"  "a  year 
of  instruction,  "  and  "  a  period  of  retirement.  "     All  are  cor- 
rect, for  during  this,  the  last  year  of  his  life,  Jesus  sought  to 
be  alone  with  his  disciples,  and  in  order  to  escape  the  crowds 
visited  places  where  he  was  unknown.      He  aimed  to  instruct 
his  disciples  in  the  deeper  truths  of  the  gospel,  to  prepare 
their  minds  for  his  approaching  death  and  for  their  mission 
as  apostles  (Matt.  16.   21). 
5.     We  now  approach  the  close  of  Christ's  life  on  earth,  and  the 


28  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

narration  is  more  detailed  as  the  cross  comes  nearer  to  view.     Our 
nexl  period  is  The  Week  of  the  Passion. 

i.)     Beginning  with  the    Triumphal    Entry    on  the    Sunday 

before  the  Passover  (John  21.  12,  13),  it  ends  with  the  Agony 

in  the  Garden  about  midnight  on  Thursday  (Matt.  26.  36); 

thus  embracing  strictly  but   five  days. 

2.)     It  is  related  in  all  the     gospels,  John    alone  adding  the 

teaching  given  at  the   Last  Supper  (John  13-17). 
3.)     All  the  events  of  this  period  took  place  in  or  near  Jerusa- 
lem. 
4.)     This  was  the  last  call  of  Christ  to  the  Jews  of  Jerusalem, 
and  his  final  rebuke  for  their  rejection  of  his  ministry. 

6.  The  Day  of  the  Crucifixion.  The  most  important  day  in  all 
earth's  history  was  that  when  Jesus  died  upon  the  cross.  It  is  also 
tlie  day  whose  events  arc  narrated  more  fully  than  any  other  in  the 
Bible  annals.  Therefore  we  study  it  apart  from  the  rest  of  the  week 
as  a  separate  period. 

1.)  It  begins  with  the  Arrest  (Matt.  26.  47),  soon  after  mid- 
night, Friday  a.  m.,  the  day  of  the  Passover,  and  ends  at 
about  sunset  of  the  same  day  with  the  Burial  (Matt.  27. 
59.  60). 

2.)  Each  gospel  adds  its  portion  to  the  accotmt,  that  of  John, 
an  eye-witness  of  all  the  events,  being  the  most  complete. 

3.)  The  events  took  place  in  Jerusalem;  but  few,  if  any,  of  the 
localities  are  known  with  certainty. 

4.)  In  the  scenes  of  this  day  we  see  Jesus  as  the  suffering 
Saviour,  bearing  the  sins  of  the  world. 

7 .  Last  of  all  a  »me  The  Forty  Days  of  Resurrection. 

1).  From  the  Resurrection,  early  on  the  first  Easter  Sunday 
(Matt.  28.    1-8),  to  the  Ascension,  forty  days  afterward  (Acts 

i-    i-3)- 
2.)     All  the  gospels  give  accounts  of  the  appearances  of  the 

risen  Saviour,  but  Luke  alone  tells  the  story  of  his  Ascension 

(Luke  24.   50,   5 1  :  Acts    1     <>-\  1). 
3.)     The  manifestations  of  Christ  after  his  Resurrection    took 

place  in  anil   near  Jerusalem,  near  the  village  of   Kmmaus 

(Luke  24.    i.O.  and  in  Galilee  (Matt.  28.    i<>:  John  21.   1). 
4.)     During  this  period  the  visible  revelation  of  Christ  was  not 


The  Life  op  Christ  29 

constant,  but  occasional;  to  his  disciples  only,  never  to  his 
enemies;  and  of  a  spiritual  body,  which  was  freed  from  the 
restraints  of  the  flesh  (Mark  16.   12;  Luke  24.  31;   John  20. 

19)- 

Blackboard  Outline 
* 

I.     Gen.  Asp.     1.  Sh.     2.  In  Pal.     3    Am.  com.  peo.     4.  Ac. 
II.      Sev.  Per. 

1.  Th.  Ye.  Prep.     1)  Bir-Temp.    2)  Lu.  Mat.  Mar.    3)  Gal. 
4)    Long,  few  inc. 

2.  Ye.Obs.    ij 1  Fir.  Foil. -Re.  Gal.     2)  Jno.     3)  Jud.     4)  Obs. 

3.  Ye.  Pop.      1)    Re.  Naz-Dis.  B.  L.     2)  M.  M.  L.     3)    Gal. 
4)  Act. 

4-     Ye.  Opp.  1)  Re.  Ph. -An.  Ma.     2)  All  Gos.     3)  All  Prov. 
4)   Instruc. 

5.  "We.  Pass.     1)  Tri.  En.-Ag.  Gar.     2)  All  Gos.     3)  Jer. 
4)  Las.  Ca. 

6.  Day  Cru.     1)  Arr.-Bur.     2)  All  Gos.     3)  Jer.     4)  Stiff. 
Sav. 

7.  For.  Da.  Res.     1)  Res.-Asc.     2)  All  Gos.     3)  Jud.  Gal. 
4)  Spir.  bod. 

Questions  for  Review 

In  what  respects  is  Jesus  Christ  the  central  figure  in  the  Bible?  How  long 
was  Christ's  life  on  the  earth?  Where  was  it  passed?  Among  what  class 
of  people  did  Jesus  live?  How  do  we  know  that  Jesus  led  an  active  life? 
What  is  the  first  of  the  seven  periods  into  which  his  life  is  divided?  With 
what  events  does  the  first  period  begin  and  end?  Which  gospel  relates  the 
most  of  this  period?  Where  was  it  mainly  passed?  How  long  was  it?  What 
is  the  second  period  called?  What  are  its  first  and  last  events?  By  whom  is  it 
related?  Where  was  it  passed?  What  were  its  results?  What  is  the  third 
period  called?  With  what  events  did  it  begin  and  end?  By  what  evangelists 
is  it  related?  In  what  province  was  it  passed?  What  is  the  fourth  period 
called?  With  what  events  did  it  begin  and  end?  What  provinces  were 
visited  during  this  period?  What  were  the  traits  of  Christ's  ministry  at  this 
time?  What  is  the  fifth  period  called?  How  long  was  it?  What  in  this 
period  is  related  by  but  one  evangelist?  Where  did  its  events  take  place? 
What  is  the  sixth  period  called?  How  long  was  it?  With  what  events  did  it 
begin  and  end?  Which  account  is  most  complete?  What  is  the  seventh 
and  last  period  called?  What  were  its  first  and  last  events?  Which  gospel 
alone  relates  the  ascension?     What  were  the  traits  of  Jesus  during  those  days? 


FOURTH  STUDY 

The  Thirty  Years  of  Preparation 

From  the  Birth  of  Jesus  to  His  Temptation. 

We  have  before  us  the  longest  of  all  the  divisions  in  the  history  of 
Jesus,  embracing  thirty  of  his  thirty-three  years  of  life,  and  the  one 
concerning  which  we  know  the  least. 

1.  Let  us  study  the  Places  connected  with  this  period.  These 
we  group  according  to  locality,  and  not  in  the  order  of  their  events. 
Beginning  in  the  north  and  traveling  southward  we  note  the  follow- 
ing places: 

i.  Nazareth,  his  early  home,  in  Galilee,  due  west  of  the  southern 
point  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee.  Here  Joseph  and  Mary  lived  before  the 
birth  of  Jesus  (Luke  2.  39) ;  here  Jesus  was  brought  up  (Luke  4.  16) ; 
and  here  he  was  living  up  to  the  time  of  his  baptism  (Mark  1.9). 

2.  Bethabara  (Rev.  Ver.,  Bethany),  the  place  of  his  baptism. 
This  was  in  the  Jordan  valley,  south  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee.      (John 

1.  28). 

3.  The  wilderness,  the  place  of  his  temptation.  (Matt.  4.  t.) 
This  was  probably  the  rocky  desolate  region  of  Judea,  near  the 
head  of  the  Dead  Sea. 

4.  Jerusalem,  the  place  of  the  Temple;  the  Jewish  capital,  due 
west  of  the  northern  point  of  the  Dead  Sea.  Find  three  visits  of 
Jesus    to    the    temple    during    this  period.      In  his   infancy    (Luke 

2.  22).      2.)    In  his  youth  (Luke  2.   42).      3.)    In  his  manhood  (Luke 

4-   o)- 

5.  Bethlehem,  the  place  of  his  birth.  (Matt.  2.  1).  This  was 
six  miles  south  of  Jerusalem,  in  Judea. 

6.  Egypt,  the  place  of  his  refuge.  (Matt.  2.  14).  This  was  the 
land  south-west  of  Palestine,  where  Jesus  was  taken  in  his  infancy 
in  order  to  escape  from  King  Herod. 

Let  the  student  r.)  Draw  a  map  showing  these  places.  2.)  Mem- 
orize the  list.      3.)   With  each   place  name  its  event  in  the  life  of 

3° 


The  Thirty  Years  of  Preparation  31 

Jesus.  4.)  Find  other  events  of  Scripture  history  connected  with 
these  places. 

II.  Let  us  arrange  in  order  the  Events  of  this  period,  i.  The 
annunciation  of  his  birth,  i)  To  Mary  (Luke  i.  26-38).  2.)  To 
Joseph  (Matt.  1.  20,  21).  3.)  To  Simeon  (Luke  2.  25,  26).  4.) 
To  the  shepherds  (Luke  2.   8-1 1). 

2.  The  birth  at  Bethlehem.  Note  the  purpose  for  which  Joseph 
and  Mary  went  to  Bethlehem  (Luke  2.  1-4).  The  circumstances  of 
his  birth  (Luke  2.   6,  7). 

3.  The  welcome  to  the  child.  1.)  On  the  night  of  his  birth 
(Luke  2.  15).  2.)  A  few  days  later  (Matt.  2.  1,  11).  3.)  In  the 
temple  (Luke  2.   25-28,  36,  38). 

4.  The  refuge  in  Egypt  (Matt.  2.  13-15).  This  may  have  been 
for  a  few  weeks,  a  few  months,  or  for  a  few  years. 

5.  The  childhood  at  Nazareth  (Matt.  2.  22,23;  Luke  2.  39,40). 
By  what  route  would  the  journey  from  Egypt  be  made? 

6.  The  visit  to  the  temple.  Read  the  account  in  Luke  2.  41-52. 
and  notice:  1.)  The  age  of  Jesus.  2.)  The  object  of  the  journey, 
3.)  Probable  route.  4.)  Where  he  tarried  and  why.  5)  The 
objects  of  his  interest.      6.)   Traits  of  his  character  shown. 

7.  The  silent  years.  From  the  age  of  twelve  to  that  of  thirty 
no  events  are  named.      His  home  was  still  at  Nazareth   (John  1.   45). 

8.  The  woodworker  at  Nazareth.  From  the  fact  that  Joseph 
is  not  referred  to  after  the  visit  to  the  temple  it  may  be  presumed 
that  he  died  before  the  ministry  of  Jesus  began.  He  had  been  a 
"carpenter"  (Matt.  13.  35) ;  although  the  word  means,  more  pre- 
cisely, ''a  skilled  worker  in  wood,"  and  may  refer  to  the  making  of 
almost  anything  except  houses,  which  were  not  built  of  wood.  Jesus 
followed  the  same  trade  (Mark  6.  3)  and,  as  the  oldest  son,  sup- 
ported his  widowed  mother  and  younger  brothers  and  sisters  (Mark 
6.  3). 

9.  The  baptism    in  Jordan.     Compare  the  four  accounts  (Matt. 

3.  13-17;  Mark  1.  9-ii;Luke3-  21,  22;  John  1.  28-34);  and  rind- 
1.)  The  place.  2.)  The  age  of  Jesus.  3.)  The  baptizer.  4.)  The 
divine  manifestation. 

10.  The  temptation  in  the  wilderness.  This  followed  immedi- 
ately upon  the  baptism,  and  was  a  preparation  for  his  ministry  (Matt. 

4.  1-11;  Mark   t.   12,  13;  Luke  4.    1-13).      Note:  1.)  The  place.      2.) 


32 


Outline  Studies  in  the  XewTestamf.nt 


The  personality  of  the  tempter.     3.)  The  three  forms  of  temptation. 

4.)   How  repelled.     5.)  The  result. 

Let  the  student,  1.)  Memorize  these-  nine  events  in  their  order. 
2.)  Read  the  account  of  each  in  the  gospels.  3.)  Recall  where  each 
took  place.  4.)  Notice  what  other  persons  besides  Jesus  are  named 
in  the  period  (for  example,  Joseph,  Mary,  Simeon,  Anna,  Herod, 
etc.)  and  each  one's  part  in  the  events, 

III.  Draw  the  map 
of  Palestine,  locating 
upon  it  the  five  places 
named  ;  and  then  indi- 
cate the  following 
Journeys  of  the  period: 
1.  From  Bethlehem  to 
Jerusalem  (for  the  pres- 
entation in  the  tem- 
ple) and  return.  2. 
From  Bethlehem  to 
Egypt  (flight  from 
Herod).  3.  Prom  Egypt 
to  Nazareth.  4-  From 
Nazareth  to  Jerusalem 
and  return  (visit  to 
temple).  5.  From  Na- 
zareth to  Bethabara 
(baptism).  6.  Betha- 
bara to  the  wilderness 
(temptation). 

IV.  L  e  t  us  no  w 
study  t  h  e  External 
Conditions  of  Christ's 
life  during  this  period. 

1.  The  family.  The 
royal  line  of  both  Jo- 
seph and  Mary  (Matt. 
1.  1  ;  Luke  1.  27,  32).  Their  obscure  social  condition  (Matt.  13. 
54,55).  In  all  probability  they  belonged  to  the  better  class  of 
self-supporting  workers  :  for  Joseph  followed  a  trade. 


The  Thirty  Years  of  Preparation  33 

2.  The  house.  Probably  like  those  of  working  people  in  Pales- 
tine; built  of  clay,  one  story  high,  containing  but  one  room  with  no 
window,  but  lighted  through  the  door;  whitewashed  on  the  out- 
side; floor  of  earth. 

3.  The  furniture.  A  couch  that  could  be  rolled  up  (Mark  2.  12). 
A  lamp,  a  lamp-stand,  "the  bushel"  (used  as  seat,  table,  and  dish 
(Matt.  5.  15).  Hand-mill  for  grinding  (Deut.  24.  6;  Matt.  24.  41). 
Probably  neither  chair,  table,  nor  bedstead. 

4.  Education.  Jesus  received  only  the  common  schooling,  not 
a  college  education  (John  7.  15).  Contrast  with  the  early  advan- 
tages of  Paul  (Acts  22.  3).  Every  synagogue  had  a  school  taught  by 
"the  minister.  "  See  Luke  4.  20.  He  was  not  a  priest,  nor  even  a 
scribe,  but  properly  the  curator  or  sexton  of  the  synagogue,  and  all 
the  teaching  was  the  reading  of  the  Old  Testament. 

5.  Religious  training. 

1.)      There    was   the   influence    of   a   godly  man  and  woman. 

"Joseph,  "a  just  man,"  living  in  fellowship  with  God.  (Matt. 

1.    19,  20).     The  character  of  Mary  (Luke  1.  38;   2.  19,  51). 

2.)      The  instruction  in  the  Scriptures  at  home  (Deut.  6.    7.) 

3.)      The  daily  prayers,  morning  and  evening,  always  observed 

(Matt.  6.   5,  6). 
4.)     The    Sabbath  rest  (Mark  2.   27). 

5.)     The  worship  of  the  synagogue  (Luke  4.   16;   Mark  6.   2.) 
6.)      The  great  feasts,  celebrated  each  year  at  Jerusalem — Pass- 
over, Pentecost,  and  Tabernacles — which  Joseph  and  Mary 
attended  (Luke  2.  41). 
Under  these  influences  Jesus  grew  up  to  manhood. 

Blackboard  Outline 

^ _ -►j, 

I.     Pla.      1.    Naz.  ea.   h.      2.    Beth.   pi.    bap.      3.    Wil.  pi. 

temp.    4.  Jer.  pi.  Tern.    5.  Beth.  pi.  bir.    6.  Eg.  pl.ref. 

II.      Even.       1.     Ann.    bir.       2.     Bir.    Beth.      3.     Wei.    ch. 

4.   Ref.  Eg.      5.  Chi.   Naz.     6.  Vis.  Tern.      7.  Sil.    ye. 

8.    Wo.  Naz.     9.  Bap.  Jor.      10.  Tern.  wil. 

III.  Jour.  1.  B.J.R.  2.  B.E.  3.  E.N.  4.  N.J.R.   5.  N.C.  6.  B.W. 

IV.  Ext.    Con.      1     Fam.      2.     Hou.      3.     Furn.      4.     Edu. 
?.  Rel.  tra. 

& : 


34  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

Questions  for  Review 
Where  did  the  mother  of  Jesus  live  before  her  marriage?  At  what  place  was 
Jesus  baptized?  Where  did  the  temptation  take  place?  What  three  visits  did 
Jesus  make  to  Jerusalem  before  his  ministry?  To  what  country  was  Jesus 
taken  as  a  refuge  from  Herod?  Name  six  places  connected  with  this  period 
and  a  fact  ahout  each.  Name  four  announcements  made  to  different  people 
of  the  coming  of  Jesus.  For  what  purpose  did  Joseph  and  Mary  go  to 
Bethlehem  just  hefore  the  birth  of  Jesus?  Who  came  to  see  Jesus  at  Bethle- 
hem. Who  gave  him  welcome  in  the  temple  during  his  infancy?  How  old 
was  Jesus  when  he  first  visited  the  temple?  What  part  of  his  life  is  known 
as  "the  silent  years"?  What  trade  did  Jesus  follow  when  he  became  a  man? 
What  took  place  at  the  baptism  of  Jesus?  State  nine  events  in  the  first  thirty 
years  of  Jcsus's  life.  State  a  fact  in  the  life  of  Jesus  with  which  each  of  the 
following  persons  was  connected:  Joseph,  Simeon,  Herod,  John  the  Baptist, 
Gabriel,  wise  men,  "the  doctors  of  the  law,"  shepherds.  How  do  we  know  that 
Joseph  and  Mary  were  poor  people?  To  what  distinguished  family  did  they 
belong?  In  what  kind  of  a  house  did  they  probably  dwell?  What  articles  of 
furniture  did  the  house  contain?  What  education  did  Jesus  receive?  Who 
was  the  teacher  of  the  school?  What  were  the  religious  influences  around  the 
youth  of  Jesus?     What  feasts  did  he  attend? 


FIFTH  STUDY 

The  Year  of  Obscurity 

From  the  First  Followers  of  Jesus  to  His  Return  to  Galilee. 

I.     Preliminary  Notes  on  the  period. 

1.  Sources  of  Information.  Our  only  account  of  this  period  is 
contained  in  John's  Gospel.  Read  carefully  John  i.  19  to  4.  54  for 
all  the  facts  on  record. 

2.  Time.  The  Saviour  came  from  the  temptation  in  the  wilder- 
ness either  late  in  February  or  early  in  March,  A.  D.  27,  and 
he  began  his  ministry  in  Galilee  in  May,  A.  D.  28 ;  so  that  this  period 
embraced  nearly  fifteen  months.  (Edersheim.  According  to 
Andrews  it  ended  in  March,  and  was  a  year  in  duration). 

3 .  Locality.  Most  of  this  year  was  passed  in  Judea,  though  there 
is  mention  of  one  journey  to  Galilee  soon  after  the  beginning  (John 
1.  43),  and  of  another  at  the  close  (John  4.   3). 

4.  Aim.  It  is  probable  that  Jesus  began  his  ministry  in  Judea, 
the  leading  province,  in  order  to  give  to  the  leaders  of  the  nation  the 
first  opportunity  of  accepting  him  as  the  Messiah  of  Israel.  Not 
until  Jerusalem  and  Judea  had  rejected  him  did  he  turn  to  the 
people  of  Galilee. 

II.     Places. 

1.  Bethabara  (or  Bethany,  as  in  Rev.  Ver.)  (John  1.  28). 
Here  occurred  the    meeting  of  Jesus  with  his  first  followers  (John 

i-  37)- 

2.  Cana,  the  place  of  the  first  miracle  (John  2.  1).  This  was  in 
Galilee,  not  far  from  Nazareth. 

3.  Capernaum,  named  only  as  a  place  of  a  brief  visit  by  Jesus  at 
this  time,  but  later  more  prominent  in  the  history  (John  2.  12). 
Situated  on  the  north-western  shore  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 

4.  Sychar,  the  place  of  the  Samaritan  ministry  (John  4.  5,  40). 
This  was  formerly  supposed  to  be  the  well-known  city  of  Shechem, 
but  is  now  more  accurately  fixed  at  Askar,  a  small  village  near  to 
Jacob's  well. 

35 


36 


Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 


5-  Jerusalem.  During  this  period  two  events  took  place  in  Jeru- 
salem— the  cleansing  of  the  temple  (John  2.  1  1.  1$),  and  the  con- 
versation with  Nicodemus  (John  3,  1,  21). 

III.  Journeys.  We  be- 
gin in  the  wildernessof  the 
temptation.  1 .  From  the 
wilderness  to  Bethabara. 
2.  From  B  ethab  a  ra  t<> 
("ana.  3.  From  Cana  to 
C a  per  n  a  u  m.  4.  Fr<  im 
Capernaum  to  Jerusalem 
andjudea.  5.  Fromjudea 
t< >  Sychar,  and  thence  to 
Cana. 

J  V.  We  place  in  1  irder 
next  tlie  Events  of  the 
Saviour's  life  during  this 
period. 

1 .  The  first  followers. 
Read  John  1.  35-51  and 
ascertain  the  names  of 
four,  with  hints  of  two 
others;  for  one  of  two  in 
ver.  40  was  John,  and  the 
language  in  ver.  41  implies  that  each  sought  his  own  brother. 
Notice  what  traits  of  character  each  disciple  showed.  In  this 
little  company,  the  band  out  of  which  .crew  the  Christian  Church, 
we  find:  1.)  A  man  who  brought  people  one  by  one  to  Jesus. 
2.)  A  deej),  spiritually-minded  mystic  3.)  A  born  leader,  j.)  A 
plain,  simple-minded  believer.  5.)  A  man  of  pure,  spotless  charac- 
ter.    What  a  combination  of  qualities  for  the  founding  of  a  church! 

2.  The  first  miracle  (John  2.  1-11).  In  this  miracle  we  find 
an  ap1  symbol  of  what  Christ  came  to  do  among  men.  He  found 
water,  and  he  turned  it  into  living,  spirit-quickening  wine. 

3.  The  visit  to  Capernaum  (John  2.  12).  Why  he  went  we 
have  no  means  of  knowing,  and  it  is  idle  to  speculate. 

4  The  first  Passover  (John  2.  13).  The  mention  of  these  pass- 
overs  is  important,  for  they  enable  us  to  know  how  long  was  the  min- 


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The  Year  of  Obscurity  37 

istry  of  Jesus,  and  they  give  us  dates  for  its  events.     This  was  the 
first  passover  of  his  ministry,  not  of  his  life. 

5.  Cleansing  the  Temple  (John  2.  14-17).  This  was  the  first 
public  act  of  his  ministry  in  which  he  claimed  the  authority  of 
Messiah  in  the  house  of  God.  See  the  prophecy,  Mai.  3.  1-3.  At 
the  close  of  his  ministry  he  found  that  the  same  evils  had  crept  again 
into  the  temple,  and  purged  it  a  second  time  (Matt.  21.  12). 

6.  Conversation  with  Nicodemus  (John  3.  1-21).  This  conversa- 
tion was  remarkable:  1.)  From  the  rank  and  character  of  the  man 
(Vers.  3,  10).  2.)  From  the  theme  (Ver.  3.)  3).  From  its  results 
(John  7.   50;  19.  39). 

7.  Ministry  in  Judea  (John  3.  22.  1).  Its  precise  place  is  un- 
known. 2.)  Its  relation  to  John  the  Baptist  (John  3.  26).  3.)  Its 
success  (John  4.    1). 

8.  Ministry  in  Samaria  (John  4.  4-42).  1.)  What  led  to  it. 
(Ver.  4.)  2.)  Where  it  took  place.  (Ver.  5.)  3.)  How  it  began.  (Vers. 
6,  7.)  4.)  Its  first  convert,  a  remarkable  character,  of  aptness  in 
speech,  penetration,  and  power  to  influence  others.  (Vers.  9,  15,  20, 
25,  28,  30,  39.)  Compare  her  brightness  with  the  dullness  of  Nicode- 
mus. 5.)  Its  length.  (Ver.  40.)  6.)  Its  results:  (Vers.  41, 42.) 
This  ministry  is  a  most  interesting  episode  in  the  life  of  Jesus. 

9.  Return  to  Galilee  (John  4.  43).  1.)  Reason  for  the  journey 
(John  4.  1-3).  2.)  Another  reason  (Mark  1.  14).  3.)  Still  another 
reason  (John  4.  44,  45) — that  is,  he  had  no  honor  in  his  own  coun- 
try until  he  had  obtained  it  in  Judea. 

10.  Healing  the  nobleman's  son  (John  4.  46-54)-  *•)  Where 
Jesus  was.  (Ver.  46.)  2.)  Who  the  man  was.  (Ver.  46) — literally,  "a 
king's  man,  courtier."  Is  his  name  given  in  Luke  8.  30?  3.)  His 
spirit,  earnestness,  persistence,  faith.  (Vers.  48-50.)  4.)  His  reward. 
(Vers.  51,  52.)      5.)    Result  of  the  miracle.      (Ver.  53.) 

Let  the  student,  1.)  Commit  this  series  to  memory.  2.)  Study 
the  facts  in  relation  to  each  by  searching  out  the  references. 
3.)  Recall  the  facts  in  connection  with  each  event.  4.)  Make  a  list 
of  eight  men  and  two  women  who  were  connected  with  these 
events  and  recall  what  is  related  of  each  person. 

V.  Let  us  now  consider  the  General  Traits  of  the  Ministry  of 
Christ  during  this  period. 

1.      It  was  preparatory.     So    far  as  we  can  perceive,  the    plans 


38  Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestament 

of  Christ's  kingdom  were  not  as  yel  revealed,  and  no  general  proc- 
lamation of  it  was  made.  Yd  he  clearly  revealed  himself  to  a 
-  ho  en  few  as  tlir  Messiah  of  Israel  (John  1.  41,  45;  4.   25,  26). 

2.  It  was  connected  with  John  the  Baptist.  The  two  streams 
oi  John's  ministry  and  Christ's  ministry  run  together  during  this 
preparatory  ministry.  John  introduced  Jesus  (John  1.  29-36). 
The  two  worked  at  the  same  time,  in  the  same  way,  and  not  far 
aparl  (John  3.  22-24).  Both  Jesus  and  John  refused  to  be  put  into 
a  relation  of  rivalry,  either  by  their  friends  (John  3.  25-30)  or  by 
their  enemies  (John  4.    1-3). 

3.  It  was  individual — that  is,  to  individuals  rather  than  to 
masses  of  people.  We  read  of  no  such  multitudes  as  in  the  suc- 
ceeding  period,  hut  we  find  six  conversations  of  Jesus  with  single 
persons  or  small  groups.  He  sought  to  gather  a  few  choice  disciples 
rather  than  many  adherents. 

4.  It  was  a  teaching  ministry.  There  were  miracles  (John  2. 
23;  3.  2),  but  they  were  not  made  prominent;  and  the  immediate 
followers  of  Jesus  were  won  by  what  they  saw  in  him  and  heard 
from  him  rather  than  by  wonders  wrought  by  him. 

VT.  Lastly,  we  ascertain  the  Results  of  the  Saviour's  ministry 
during  this  period. 

1.  It  gave  him  prominence  before  the  people.  The  popular 
attention  was  arrested,  and  there  was  a  transient,  superficial  accept- 
ance by  the  many;  but  Jesus  knew  the  hearts  of  men  too  well  to 
trust  them  (John  2.   23,  24;  3.   26). 

2.  It  led  to  his  rejection  by  the  rulers.  Though  this  is  not  stated 
it  is  hinted  at  in  the  controversies  of  the  Jewish  leaders  (John  2.  18)  ; 
in  the  conclusion  of  the  gospel  writer  (John  3.  18-20),  and  in  the 
reference  to  the  Pharisees  (John  4.1").  From  this  hour  the  attitude 
of  the  capital  and  the  ruling  minds  was  hostile  to  Jesus.  They 
missed  the  one  great  opportunity  in  their  nation's  history. 

3.  It  drew  around  him  chosen  followers.  From  this  time  there 
was  a  company  of  disciples  with  Jesus.  They  returned  to  their 
homes  in  Galilee  for  a  time,  hut  were  soon  called  to  leave  all  and 

tnpany  their  master.  To  some  of  them  we  find  three  separate 
calls  (Tolm  1.  37-42;  Matt.  4.  18-22  more  than  a  year  later,  and 
Mark  3.    13,   14,  later  still ), 

4.  It  prepared  for  his  ministry  in  Galilee.      The  fame  of  Christ's 


The  Year  of  Obscurity  39 

acts  in  Judea  went  before  him  to  Galilee,  awakened  curiosity,  and 
gave  him  a  ready  reception  on  his  return  (John  4.  45).  We  shall 
find  in  the  next  period  great  multitudes  thronging  after  Jesus  as  the 
result  of  his  ministry  in  Judea. 

Blackboard  Outline 


*— 
I. 

— ► 

Pre.   Not.      1.   Sour.   Inf.   Jno.      2.   Ti.    15  m.     3.  Loc. 

Jud.      4.    Aim.      Fir.  opp. 

II. 

Pla.     1.   Beth.      2.  Can.     3.  Cap.     4.  Svc.     5.  Jer. 

III. 

Jour.       1.  W.  B.      2.    B.  C.     3.    C.  C.     4.    C.   J.  &  J. 

5.     J.  S.  &  C. 

IV. 

Even.      1.  Fir.  Foil.      2.  Fir.  Mir.     3.  Vis.  Cap.     4.   Fir. 

Pass.     5.Cle.  Tern.     6.Con.Nic.     y.Min.Jud.     8.  Min. 

Sam.      9.   Ret.   Gal.      10.   Heal.  Nob.   Son. 

V. 

Gen.  Tra.      1.  Prep.      2.  Con.  J.  Bap.      3.  Ind.      4.  Tea. 

VI; 

Res.      i.   Prom.      2.   Rej.   nil.     3.   Cho.  fol.       4.   Prep. 

* 

Min.  Gal. 

Questions  for  Students 

What  book  is  our  only  source  of  information  for  this  period?  How  long 
was  the  period?  Where  was  it  mostly  passed?  What  was  Christ's  aim  at 
this  time?  Name  the  five  places  of  the  period,  and  an  event  at  each.  Give 
in  order  the  ten  events  of  this  period.  Who  were  the  first  six  followers  of 
Jesus?  What  was  his  first  miracle,  and  where  wrought?  Where  did  Jesus 
go  for  his  first  passover?  Name  two  events  that  took  place  at  this  visit.  Where 
did  Jesus  preach  for  a  time?  What  led  him  to  another  province?  Whom  did 
he  meet  there,  and  at  what  place?  How  long  did  he  stay  in  the  province 
of  Samaria?  What  were  his  reasons  for  returning  to  Galilee?  What  miracle 
did  he  work  on  his  return?  What  were  the  circumstances  of  this  miracle? 
What  were  the  general  traits  of  Christ's  ministry  during  this  period?  What 
were  the  results  of  his  ministry?  How  did  it  prepare  the  way  for  his  work 
in  Galilee  ? 


SIXTH   STUDY 

The  Year  of  Popularity 

From  the   Rejection   at    Nazareth    to  the  Discourse    on    the   Bread 

of  Life 

1.  General  Aspects  of  the  Ministry  of  Christ  during  the  Period. 
i       Its  Time.     It  was  either  a  little  less  or  a  little  more  than    a 

year,  according  to  different  authorities.  According  to  Dr.  Eders- 
heim  it  extended  from  May,  A.  I).  28,  to  April,  A.  D.  29;  according 
to  Dr.  Andrews,  from  March,  A.  D.  28,  to  April,  A.  D.  29. 

2.  Its  Locality.  The  principal  sphere  1  >f  Christ's  activity  during 
this  year  was  Galilee,  though  he  made  one  visit    to  Jerusalem  (John 

5     0- 

3.  Its  Aim.  The  purpose  of  Jesus  during  this  year  seems  to 
have  been  to  proclaim  the  new  kingdom  of  God  as  widely  as  pi  >ssil>le, 
and  to  make  men  acquainted  with  its  principles.  The  theme  of 
his  preaching  is  given  in  Matt.  4.  17.  The  deeper  themes  of  the 
Gospel  were  reserved  for  a  later  time  and  a  select  body  of  hearers; 
and  those  aspects  wire  presented  which  all  men  could  at  once  com- 
prehend, as  the  teaching  in  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount. 

4.  Its  Activity.  No  other  year  in  the  Saviour's  life  was  crowded 
so  thickly  with  journeys  and  labors.  Sec  its  summary  in  Matt.  \. 
23-25.  We  can  trace  eight  distinct  journeys  from  Capernaum  to 
various  regions  during  this  year. 

5.  Its  Divisions.  The  number  of  events  lefl  on  record  makes  a 
subdivision  of  this  period  necessary,  and  we  find  a  convenient  place 
at  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  which  marks  a  point  of  departure  in 
the  Saviour's  ministry.  The  Early  Galilean  Ministry  extends  from 
the  rejection  at  Nazareth  to  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  and  the 
Later  Galilean  Ministry  from  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  to  the  dis- 
course on  the  Bread  of  Life.  During  the  earlier  section  the  ministry 
was  personal  and  the  range  was  less  extended  ;  during  the  later  Jesus 
sent  his  apostles  forth  to  labor,  and  his  own  journeys  were  longer 
and  in  new  fields. 

40 


The  Year  of  Popularity  41 

II.  The  Places.  Though  the  Saviour  visited  many  places  dur- 
ing this  year  only  seven  have  been  named  in  the  gospels.  These 
are: 

1.  Capernaum,  his  home  during  the  period  (Matt.  4.  15).  From 
this  place  he  went  forth  on  all  of  his  preaching  tours,  and  to  it  he 
returned.  Its  privilege  (Matt.  n.  23,24).  It  was  situated  on  the 
northwestern  shore  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 

2.  Nazareth.  Twice  in  this  period  Jesus  was  at  this  place:  at 
its  beginning  (Luke  4.  16),  and  again  in  the  middle  of  the  year 
(Matt.  13.  54).  On  both  occasions  he  was  rejected  by  the  people 
(Luke  4.      28,   29;      Matt.    13.      57). 

3.  Nain.  This  was  a  city  southwest  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee, 
where  Jesus  restored  a  young  man  to  life  (Luke  7.     11). 

4.  The  Mountain.  A  few  miles  from  Capernaum  and  west  of  the 
Sea  of  Galilee  is  a  mountain  (probably  Kurun  Hattin,  ''the  horns 
of  Hattin  ")  where  was  delivered  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  (Matt. 
5-    i)- 

5.  Bethsaida,  a  place  on  the  northern  shore  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee, 
east  of  the  river  Jordan.  Near  this  was  wrought  the  miracle  of 
Feeding  the  Five  Thousand   (Mark  6.   45). 

6.  Gergesa.  A  place  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee, 
called  also  Gerasa  (Mark  5.    1;  Luke  8.   26.      Rev.  Ver.). 

7.  Jerusalem.  We  read  of  one  visit  to  the  capital  during  this 
period    (John  5.    1). 

III.  The  Early  Galilean  Ministry. 

1.)  The  Journeys.  Combining  the  accounts  in  the  four  gospels 
we  find  that  the  journeys  were  the  following: 

1.)  The  Settlement  at  Capernaum  (Cana  to  Nazareth  and  Caper- 
naum). From  Cana,  where  Jesus  was  at  the  close  of  the  preceding 
period,  he  went  to  Nazareth  (Luke  4.  16),  probably  intending  to 
begin  his  ministry  there;  but  being  rejected  went  down  to  Caper- 
naum and  made  it  the  headquarters  of  his  ministry  (Luke  4.   30,3 1). 

2.)  Tour  in  Eastern  Galilee  (Capernaum,  Eastern  Galilee,  and 
return).  From  Capernaum  Jesus  went  forth  on  a  preaching  tour 
through  the  villages  near  the  Sea  of  Galilee  (Luke  4.  43,  44). 

3.)  A  Visit  to  Jerusalem  (Capernaum  to  Jerusalem  and  return) . 
Mention  is  made  in  John  5.  1  of  a  feast  in  Jerusalem  which  Jesus 


42 


Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 


attended,    but  it  is    uncertain    whether   Passover,   Tabernacles,  or 
Purim  is  meant. 

4.)  The  Mountain  Journey   (Capernaum   to   the  mountain  and 
return).     For  the  purpose  of  quiet  meditation  and  the  call  of  his 


YEA  R  OF  POPULARITY 

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apostles  Jesus  wmt  to  a  mountain  near  the  Sea  of  Galilee.  There 
he  chose  the  twelve  and  gave  to  them  and  the  multitudes  around 
the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  (Mark  3.    13,  14;  Matt.   5.    1). 

1  V.      Events  of  the  Early  Galilean  Ministry. 

1.)   With  the  first  Journey,   the   Settlement   at   Capernaum,   we 
connect    the    following   events: 

1.        The  Rejection  at  Nazareth      (Luke  4.    16-30). 


The  Year  of  Popularity  43 

2.  The  First  Disciples  Called  (Luke  5.  1-11).  They  had 
already  been  followers  of  Jesus,  but  now  were  called  upon 
to  leave  their  homes  and  become  his  disciples. 

3.  Miracles  at  Capernaum  (Mark  1.  21-34).  The  gospel 
writers  select  the  scenes  of  one  day  and  show  many  mir- 
acles, in  the  synagogue,  at  Peter's  house,  and  in  the  street. 

2.)   With  the  Second  Journey,   the    Tour    in   Eastern   Galilee,  we 
find  two  events  named  : 

4.  Healing  of  the  Leper    (Mark  1.  40-45).      This   took  place 

during  the  journey. 

5.  Healing  the  Paralytic   (Mark  2.    1-12).      This  took  place 

after  the  return  to  Capernaum. 
3.)    With   the   Third  Journey,   the   Visit  to  Jerusalem,    we    note 
two  events: 

6.  The  Miracle    at  Bethesda  (John    5.    1-16).      Read  this  in 

the  Rev.  Ver.  and  note  what  is  omitted.  Observe 
also  what  resulted  from  this  miracle  in  Jerusalem 
(John  5.    16-19). 

7.  The  "Withered  Hand  (Mark  3.    1-6).     This  probably  took 

place  at  Capernaum,  soon  after  the  return  from  Jeru- 
salem. 
4.)      With   the    Fourth,    the   Mountain     Journey,  we  note  two 
events. 

8.  The  Call  of  the  Twelve  (Mark  3.    7-19).      This  was  at   the 

mountain. 

9.  Sermon     on     the    Mount    (Matt.    5.-7).      This    sermon   is 

omitted  in  Mark  and  abbreviated  in  Luke,  but 
reported  fully  in  Matthew. 

To  the  Teacher 

1.  Let  the  outline  of  the  lesson  be  committed  to  memory. 

2.  Let   one   scholar   draw   the   maps   in   presence   of   the  class,   another   insert 
the  places,  a  third  indicate  and  name  the  journeys. 

3.  Then  let  one  scholar  name  all  the  events  with  the  first  journey;   another 
the  events  of  the  second  journey,  etc. 

4.  Let  a  scholar  be  called  upon  to  tell  the  story  of  each  one  of  the   nine 
events  in  the  period. 


44.  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

Blackboard  Outline 
Part  One 


I. 

Gen.  Asp.      i.  Ti.     2.  Loc.     3.  Aim.     4.  Act. 



5.  Div. 

II. 

Pla.     1.  Cap.     2.  Naz,     3.  Nai.     4.  Moun. 
6.  Ger.      7.  Jer. 

5.     Beth. 

111. 

Ear.   Gal.    Min.      Joar.      1.   Set.   Cap.      2.   To. 
3.  Vis.  Jer.     4.  Moun.  Jour. 

Ea.  Gal. 

IV. 

Events.      Ear.  Gal.  Min. 

Jour.  1.      1.  Rcj.  Naz.     2.  Fir.  Dis.  Cal.     3 

Mir.  Cap. 

Jour.  2.     4.  Heal  Lep.    5.   Heal  Par. 

Jour.  3.     6.  Mir.  Beth.   7.   With.   Ha. 

Jour.  4.     8.  Ca.  Tw.       9.  Scr.  Mo. 

Questions  for    Review 
Part  One 

How  long  was  this  period?  Where  was  it  passed?  What  was  the  aim  of 
Jesus  during  this  year?  What  are  its  two  subdivisions?  Name  seven  places 
visited  by  Jesus  during  this  period.  Name  four  journeys  during  the  early 
part  of  this  period.  What  three  events  are  connected  with  the  settlement  at 
Capernaum?  What  two  events  are  named  in  connection  with  the  tour  in 
eastern  Galilee?  What  two  events  are  given  with  the  visit  to  Jerusalem? 
What  two  events  are  named  with  the  mountain  journey? 

Part  Two 

We  now  take  up  the  second  part  of  the  Year  of  Popularity,  from 
the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  to  the  Discourse  on  the  Bread  of  Life. 

V.      The  Journeys  of  the  Later  Galilean  Ministry. 

1.      Tour  in  Southern  Galilee  (Capernaum  to  Xain  and  return). 
From  Capernaum  Jesus  U<1  his  disciples  southward   as  far  as  Nain 
(Luke  7.    1,  11).      There  lie  wxoughl  a  miracle,  and  on  the  journey 
homeward  preached  in  various  places  (Luke  8.  1). 
1    2.     The  Voyage  to  Gergesa.    (Capernaum  to  Gergesa  and  return.) 

Wi1  h  his  disci] des  Jesus  sailed  across  the  Sea  of  Galilee  (Luke  S.  22), 
stilling  the  tempest  on  the  way.  They  landed  at  Gergesa,  in  the 
country  of  the  Gadarenes  (Luke  8  26) — that  is,  nut  far  from  the 
well-known  city  of  Gadara,  which  was  twenty  miles  from  the  Sea  of 


The  Year  of  Popularity 


45 


Galilee.  Here  the  Gadarene  demoniac  was  restored,  but  the  people 
were  unwilling  to  receive  Jesus,  so  he  sailed  back  to  Capernaum 
(Matt.  q.   i.) 

3.      Tour  in  Central  Galilee  (Capernaum  to  Nazareth  and  return). 


YEAR  OF  POPULARITY 

PART   TWO . 

Capernaum 


Bethsaida. 


\o-Ger$esa. 


The  object  of  this  journey  was  a  second  visit  to  Nazareth  (Mark  6. 
1).  but,  like  the  first,  it  was  unsuccessful;  so  Jesus  left  "his  own 
country"  and  preached  in  the  villages  of  central  Galilee  (Mark  6.  6). 
4.  Retirement  to  Bethsaida(Capernaum,  Bethsaida,  and  return). 
In  order  to  obtain  needed  rest  and  seclusion  Jesus  and  his  disciples 
sailed  across  the  lake  to  the  unsettled  country  near  Bethsaida  (Mark 
6.  31,  32).  Here  he  wrought  the  miracle  of  Feeding  the  Five 
Thousand,  recrossed  the  lake  in  the  night,  and  a  day  or  two  afterward 
gave  his  last  discourse  of  the  Galilean  ministry. 


46  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

Let  the  pupil  draw  the  same  map  as  with  Part  One,  bu1  omitting 
the  journeys  of  that  part ;  and  place  upon  the  maps  the  journeys  of 
the  later  Galilean  ministry. 

VI.      The  Events  of  the  Later  Galilean  Ministry. 

i.)      With  the  First  Journey,  the  Tour  in  Southern  Galilee: 

i.)  The  Widow's  Son  Raised  (Luke  7.  11-16).  This  took 
place  at  Nain,  southwest  <>f  the  Sea  of  Gaiilee. 

2.)  "Washing  the  Saviour's  Feet  (Luke  7.  36-50).  This  event 
is  to  be  carefully  distinguished  from  the  "anointing  by  Mary," 
much  later  in  the  history. 

These  two  events  are  related  only  by  Luke. 

2.)     With  the  Second  Journey,  the  Voyage  to  Gergesa: 

3.)     Parables  by  the  Sea  (Mark  4.    1-34;    also  in  Matt.  13.    1-52). 
These  were  given  just  before  the  journey. 

4.)      Stilling  the  Tempest  (Mark  4.    1-35-41). 
5.)      The  Gadarene  Demoniac  Restored  (Mark  5.    1-20). 
6.)      Jairus's   Daughter  Raised  (Mark  5.  2  1  -43b      Two  miracles 
wrought  after  the  return  from  the  Gadarene  country. 
3).     With  the  third  Journey,  the  Tour  in  Central  Galilee. 

7.)      Second  Rejection  at  Nazareth  (Mark  6.   1-6).     Compare 
with  this  the  account  of  his  former  rejection,  and  note  the 
differences. 
8.)      Sending  out  the  Twelve  (Mark  6.    7-13).      Read  the  longer 
report  of  the  charge  to  the  Twelve  in  Matt.  10. 
4.)     With  the  Fourth  Journey,  the  Retirement  to  Bet lis aid a: 

9.)  Feeding  the  Five  Thousand  (Mark  6.  31-44).  This  and 
the  following  are  the  only  miracles  related  in  all  the  four 
gospels.  Compare  their  accounts. 
10.)  "Walking  on  the  Sea  (Mark  6.  45-52).  Note  the  ad- 
ditions in  Matt.  14.  22-33). 
11.)  Discourse  on  the  Bread  of  Life  (John  6.  24-59).  This 
marked  a  crisis  in  his  ministry,  for  it  proclaimed  a  spiritual 
application  of  the  miracle,  and  not  a  "kingdom  of  meat  and 
drink,"  as  men  were  expecting.  Note  the  results  (John  6. 
60-68).  Thus  at  the  close  of  his  Galilean  ministry — as  before 
at  the  close  of  his  Judean  ministry — the  Saviour  was  left 
alone  with  his  few  disciples. 


The  Year  of  Popularity  47 

Blackboard  Outline 

Part  Two 


* ■ 

V.     Jour.  Lat.  Gal.  Min.      1.   To.  Gal.      2.  Voy.  Ger.      3.  To. 
Cen.  Gal.      4.   Ret.    Beth. 
VI.  Ev.  Lat.  Gal.  Min.— 

Joxir.   1.      1.   Wid.  So.  Rai.      2.   Wash.   Sav.   Fe. 
Jour.  2.     3.  Par.  Sea.     4.  Still  Tern.     5.  Gad.  Dem. 

Res.     6.  Jai.  Dau.  Ra. 
Jour.  3.     7.  Sec.  Rej.  Naz.     8.  Sen.  Twel. 
Jour.  4.     9.   Fe.Fi.Th.     10  Wal.  Sea.    11.  Dis.  Br.  Li. 

* * 

Questions  for  Review 

Part  Two 

[Review  the  Questions  with  Part  One.] 
How  many  journeys  are  named  with  the  later  Galilean  ministry?  What 
was  the  first  journey  of  the  later  Galilean  ministry?  The  second  journey? 
The  third?  The  fourth?  What  two  events  took  place  with  the  tour  in 
southern  Galilee?  What  four  events  with  the  Gadarene  voyage?  What  two 
events  with  the  tour  in  Central  Galilee?  What  three  events  with  the  retire- 
ment to    Bethsaida? 


SEVENTH  STUDY 

The  Year  of  Opposition 

From  the  Retirement  to  Phoenicia  to  the  Anointing  by  Mary 
Part  One 

1  General  Aspects  of  the  Period. 

i  It  was  a  year,  lacking  one  week.  Jesus  did  not  attend  the 
third  passover  of  his  ministry.  We  find  him  at  this  time  still  in 
Galilee,  and  soon  afterward  leaving  Galilee  for  ''the  coasts  of  Tyre 
and  Sidon  "  (John  7  1-3;  Mark  7.  24).  Nearly  a  year  later,  on  the 
week  before  the  fourth  passover,  we  find  Jesus  at  Bethany,  where 
the  anointing  by  Mary  took  place  (John  12.  1,2).  Between  these 
two  passovers  came  the  year  of  opposition. 

2  It  was  a  year  of  wandering.  During  this  period  we  notice 
that  Jesus  was  in  constant  motion,  staying  only  a  little  while  at 
each  place,  and  in  succession  visiting  all  the  five  provinces  of  Pales- 
tine. Notice  the  province  referred  to  in  each  of  the  following  ref- 
eiices:  John  7.  1.;  Mark  7  31;  Mark  8.  27;  Luke  9.  5  1 ,  52  ;  Mark  10. 
1  ,  John  10.   40. 

3.  It  was  a  year  of  retirement.  We  do  not  find  that  Jesus  sought 
the  multitudes  during  this  year,  though  in  new  places  he  was  sought 
by  them  (Luke  1 1 .  29,12.  1).  He  seems  to  have  chosen  most  of  the 
time  a  secluded  life,  preferring  to  be  alone  with  his  disciples. 
See  instances  in  Mark  7.  24,  32,  33,  36;  8.    22,23,26,9.   30. 

4  It  was  a  year  of  instruction.  He  chose  to  be  alone  with  his 
disciples,  knowing  that  he  was  rapidly  Hearing  the  close  of  his  life 
'in  earth;  and  he  wished  to  instruct  his  chosen  followers  in  the  deeper 
truths  of  the  gospel  before  he  should  be  taken  from  them.  His 
teaching  in  this  period  presented  the  spiritual  side  of  truth  and  the 
doctrines  of  the  cross.  Notice  how  often  during  this  year  he  fore- 
told his  own  death  (Mark  8.  31;  9.  31,  32;  10.  32-34;  John  12. 
7    8). 

5.     It  was  a  year  of  opposition.     Nearly  all  the  people  had  now 

48 


The  Year  of  Opposition  49 

forsaken  Jesus  and  turned  against  him.  Note  the  attitude  of  the 
Pharisees. (Matt  12.  23,  24,  38,39;  23.  23.)  The  Sadducees, who  were 
the  office-holding  class,  are  mainly  referred  to  in  John  11.  47,48,  53. 
The  attitude  of  the  people.  (John  6.  66.)  Jesus  was  now  rejected 
by  the  rulers,  the  leaders  of  the  religious  class,  and  by  the  people. 

II.  The  Localities  of  the  Period.  Beside  the  five  provincess, 
Judea,  Samaria,  Galilee,  Bashan  and  Pereea,  two  other  lands  or 
districts  are  named; 

1.  Phoenicia,  called  in  the  gospels  "the  borders  of  Tyre  and 
Sidon,"  narrow  strip  ot  territory  between  Mount  Lebanon  and 
the  Mediterranean  Sea,  northwest  of  Palestine. 

2.  Decapolis.  The  word  means  "ten  cities,"  and  refers  to  a 
region,  partly  in  Bashan  and  partly  in  Peraea,  wherein  were  ten 
important  cities,  not  Jewish  but  Gentile. 

In  addition  to  the  above  we  meet  with  names  of  eight  cities: 

3.  Caesarea  Philippi,  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Hermon,  in  the  prov- 
ince of  Bashan. 

4.  Bethsaida,  on  the  northeastern  shore  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 

5 .  Capernaum,  on  the  northwestern  shore  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 

6.  Bethabara,  in  the  Jordan  Valley,  east  of  the  river,  south  of  the 
Sea  of  Galilee. 

7.  Jericho,  in  the  Jordan  Valley,  west  of  the  river,  near  the  head 
of  the  Dead  Sea. 

8.  Jerusalem,  the  capital. 

9.  Bethany,  two  miles  east  of  Jerusalem,  on  the  eastern  slope 
of  the  Mount  of  Olives. 

10.  Ephraim,  or  Ephron,  fourteen  miles  north  of  Jerusalem, 
among  the  mountains. 

III.  The  Journeys  and  Events  of  the  Period.  The  information 
upon  this  year  is  meager,  and  it  is  impossible  to  arrange  its  places 
and  facts  with  absolute  certainty.  No  other  period  is  so  uncertain 
in  the  order  of  its  events  as  this.  We  trace  in  this  period  nine 
journeys;  and  with  each  journey  call  attention  to  the  most  impor- 
tant events  connected  with  it.  The  first  journey  begins  at  Caper- 
naum. 

1.  A  Visit  to  Phoenicia.  (From  Capernaum  to  Phoenicia.)  (Matt.. 
15.  21).  This  was  the  only  land  outside  of  Palestine  visited  by 
Jesus,  and  it  is  uncertain  how  far  he  entered  within  its  limits.      He 


5° 


Outlixe  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 


sought    retirement    and    opportunity    of   instructing   his   disciples 

(Mark  7     24). 

On  this  journey  was  wrought  the  miracle  on  the  Syrophenician 
Woman  s  Daughter  (Mark  7.  25,26),  in  which  Jesus  showed  his  dis- 
ciples that  Gentiles  may  have  true  faith. 


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2.  A  Visit  to  DecapoVis.  Finding  seclusion  impossible  he 
went  around  Galilee  to  Decapolis,  easl  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee  (Mark 
7-  31). 


The  Year  of  Opposition 


5i 


Here  two  miracles  were  wrought:  1.)  Healing  the  Deaf  Man. 
Notice  its  peculiarities  in  Mark  7.  32-37.  2.)  Feeding  the  Fojr 
Thousand  (Mark  8.  1-9).  Notice  its  differences  from  a  former 
miracle  in  the  preceding  period. 

3.  A  Visit  to  Caesarea  Philippi.  (Dccapolis  to  Dalmanutha, 
Bethsaida,  and  Cassarea  Philippi.)  Trace  the  route  from  Mark  8. 
10,  22,  27. 

During  this  journey  oceurcd  four  events:  1.)  Healing  the  Blind 
Man  (Mark  8.  22-26).  This  was  at  Bethsaida.  2.)  Peter's  Con- 
fession (Matt.  16.  13-20).  3.)  The  Transfiguration  (Mark  9.  2-8). 
4.)  Healing  the  Demoniac  Boy  (Mark  9.  14-29).  These  three 
events  were  at  Cassarea  Philippi. 

4.  A  Visit  to  Capernaum.  (Cassarea  Philippi  to  Capernaum.) 
(Mark  9.  ^^).  Notice  that  his  coming  was  unattended  by  the  crowds 
of  former  times  (Mark  9.  t,t,).  This  visit  is  noteworthy  as  his  fare- 
well to  the  city  which  had  been  his  home. 

On  this  visit  took  place  the  touching  incident  of  the  Child  in  the 
Midst  (Mark  9.   36,  37). 

Part  Two 

5.  A  Visit  to  Jerusalem.  (Capernaum,  through  Samaria,  to 
Jerusalem.)  See  Luke  9.  51,52.  His  visit  to  the  capital  was  for 
the  purpose  of  attending  the  Feast  of  Tabernacles  (John  7.  2,  10,  14) 
and  he  seems  to  have  remained  until  the  Feast  of  Dedication,  two 
months  later. 

In  connection  with  this  visit  note,  1 .)  The  Rejection  by  Samaritans 
(Luke  9.  52-56).  2.)  Mary  and  Martha  (Luke  10.  38-42).  3.) 
The  Pool  of  Siloam  (John  9.  1-7).  4.)  The  Good  Shepherd  (John 
10.    1-18). 

6.  A  Visit  to  Bethabara.  (Jerusalem  to  Bethabara.)  From 
the  Feast  of  Dedication  Jesus  went  down  to  Bethabara,  evidentlv 
with  the  purpose  of  beginning  a  ministry  in  Pera?a  (John  10.   39,40). 

With  this  journey  we  place  Sending  out  the  Seventy  (Luke  10. 
1) .  These  messengers  were  sent  out  to  prepare  for  the  visit  of  Jesus 
to  a  new  province. 

7.  A  visit  to  Bethany  (John  n.  1,7.)  From  Bethabara  Jesus 
was  suddenly  called  to  Bethany,  near  Jerusalem  (John  it.    18). 

With  this  visit  we  place  the  Raising  of  Lazarus  (John  1 1.    1-46), 


52  Outline  Studies  in  tiik  NewTestament 

a  miracle  narrated  only  by  John,  and  told  because  it  led  directly  to 
the  conspiracy  against  the  life  of  Jesus  (John  n.  47,48). 

8.  A  Visit  to  Peraza.      (From  Bethany  toEphraimand  Peraea.) 

Trace  the  journey  from  John  1 1 .   54,  and  Mark  10.   1.     Jesus  stayed 
some  months  in  Pera'a,  preaching  to  his  people. 

Many  events  might  be  given  with  this  Peraean  ministry,  of  which 
we  name  only.    1 .)    Blessing  the  Children   (Mark    10.    13-16).      2.) 
The  Rich  Young  Ruler  (Mark  10.    17-25).     3.)   Parable  of  the  Prod- 
igal Son  (Luke  15.    n-32). 

9.  A  Second  Visit  to  Bethany.  (From  Pera?a,  through  Jericho, 
to  Bethany.)      Notice  the  journey  in  Mark  10.   32,46;  John  1  2.    1. 

With  this  jovirney  notice  the  events,  1.)  The  Healing  of  Bar- 
timaeus  (Mark  10.  46,  52).  2.)  The  Visit  to  Zacchazus  (Luke  iq.  i-io). 
3.)  The  Anointing  by  Mary  (John  12.  1-8).  This  brings  the  life  of 
Christ  within  one  week  of  the  Crucifixion,  and  completes  the  period. 

Blackboard  Outline 

I.     Gen.  Asp.      1.  Year.      2.  Wan.      3.  Ret.     4.  Ins. 5.    Opp. 
II.     Loc.  Per.     La.  Ph.  Dec.   Cit.  C.  P.  B.  C.    B.  J.J.   B.  E. 
Ill       Jour.      1.  Vis.  Phce.      1.)   Syr.  Worn.  Dau. 

2.     Vis.  Dec.   1.)  He.  De.  M.    2.)   Fe.  Fou.  Thou. 
.  Ces.  Phil.      1.)  Hea.  Bl.  M.    2.)   Pet.  Con. 
Trans.     4.)   Hea.  Dem.  B. 
.  Cap.      1.)   Ch.  Mid. 
,  Jer.     1.)  Rej.  Sam.     2.)  M.  and  M.     3.)  P.  Sil. 

G.  Sh. 
.   Beth.      1.)   Sen.  70. 
.   Beth.      1.)    Kai.  Laz. 

.Per.    i.)Bl.Ch.    2.)R  Yo.Ru.   3.)Par.  Prod.So. 
9.     Sec.  Vis.    Beth.        1.)   Hen.    Bar.       2.)   Vis.    Zac. 
3.)  Anoin.  Ma. 


3  ■ 

Vis 

3) 

4- 

Vis 

5- 

Vis 

4.) 

6. 

Vis 

7- 

Vis 

8. 

Vis 

* 


Review  Question 

With    what   event    does   the    Year    of    Opposition    hegin  ?      With    what    does    il 

end?      How   long   was   it?      Where    was   it    passed?      I  low   did   it    differ    from   the 

ding  year?     Why  did  Jesus  seek   retirement  at  this  time?     What   was  the 

feeling   of   the    people    toward    Jesus?      What    land    outside    of    Palestine    was 

visited   by  Jesus?     What  miracle   was   wrought   during  this   visit?     Where  was 


The  Year  of  Opposition  53 

the  Second  Journey  of  this  Period?  What  two  miracles  were  wrought  at  this 
time?  What  was  the  Third  Journey?  Name  four  events  connected  with 
this  journey.  What  was  the  Fourth  Journey?  The  Fifth  Journey?  Name 
four  events  with  this  journey.  Where  did  Jesus  go  for  the  Sixth  Journey? 
Whom  did  he  send  out  at  this  time,  and  for  what  purpose?  What  was  the 
place  and  what  the  purpose  of  the  Seventh  Journey?  Where  was  the  Eighth 
Journey:  What  took  place  with  this  journey?  What  was  the  Ninth  Journey? 
Name  three  events  of  this  journey. 


EIGHTH  STUDY 
The  Week  of  the  Passion 

From  the  Triumphal  Entry  Until  the  Agony  in  the  Garden 

I.  General  View  of  the  Period. 

i.  Our  studies  have  now  reached  the  close  of  the  Saviour's  min- 
istry and  have  brought  vis  to  his  last  visit  to  Jerusalem.  This 
period  presents  the  last  appeal  of  Jesus  to  the  Jewish  people  and 
his  final  conversations  with  his  disciples  before  his  death. 

2  Strictly  speaking,  "the  week  of  the  passion"  or  suffering  of 
Jesus  should  include  all  the  events  from  his  Triumphal  Entry  into 
Jerusalem  on  Sunday  until  his  burial  on  Friday  evening  But  the 
events  of  the  day  of  his  crucifixion  were  so  many  and  so  important 
as  to  make  that  day  a  period  by  itself,  and  we  therefore  consider 
at  present  only  five  days,  from  the  Sunday  morning  to  the  Thurs- 
day night  of  the  Jewish  Passover,  the  night  before  the  Saviour's 
crucifixion. 

3.  All  its  events  took  place  in  or  near  Jerusalem.  On  each 
morning  Jesus  went  from  Bethany,  where  he  remained  at  night  with 
his  friends,  the  household  of  Mary  and  Martha;  and  on  each  even- 
ing except  the  last  he  returned  to  Bethany.  The  days  were  mostly 
spent  in  Jerusalem. 

II.  In  the  study  of  this  period  we  note  the  following  Places* 

1.  Bethany,  a  small  village  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Mount  of 
Olives.  It  was  the  home  of  Mary,  Martha,  and  Lazarus  (John  n. 
1).  Its  distance  from  Jerusalem  (John  11.  18).  The  lodging  place 
of  Jesus  at  this  time  (Matt.  21.    17). 

2.  The  Temple  in  Jerusalem.  Here  Jesus  passed  most  of  the 
time  during  the  first  three  days  of  this  week  in  discussion  with  the 
Jews  (Luke  21  37).  The  part  of  the  temple  in  which  Jesus  taught 
(John  8.  20;  Mark  12.  41).  This  was  the  Court  of  the  Women, 
called  "the  treasury"  because  of  boxes  for  contributions  upon 
its  walls.      It  was  inside  the  larger  Court  of  tin    ('.entiles,  and  was 

54 


The  Week  of  the  Passion  55 

about  two  hundred  and  thirty  feet  square,  open  above  to  the  sky, 
but  with  galleries  around. 

3.  The  Supper  room.  See  Mark  14.  13-17.  The  place  is  un- 
known ;  but  there  is  on  Mount  Zion  a  locality  pointed  out  by  tradi- 
tion which  may  or  may  not  be  correct.  This  was  probably  the 
"upper  room"  used  as  a  meeting  place  after  the  Resurrection  and 
Ascension  (John  20.   19;  Acts  1.    13;  2.   1). 

4.  The  Mount  of  Olives.  This  is  a  range  of  hills  east  of  Jerusa- 
lem and  separated  from  the  Temple  by  the  Valley  of  the  Kedron 
(John  18.  1).  Its  distance  from  the  city  (Acts  1.  12).  Here  began 
the  Triumphal  Entry  (Luke  19.  37).  From  this  height  Jesus  gave 
his  prophecy  of  the  destruction  of  the  city  (Mark  13.   3,4). 

5.  The  Garden  of  Gethsemane.  The  word  means  "oil-press," 
and  suggests  that  it  was  an  olive  orchard  on  the  western  slope  of  the 
Mount  of  Olives  (Mark  14.  26,  32).  A  garden  is  still  shown  which 
may  be  the  true  locality  of  the  Agony. 

Let  the  student  draw  a  map  of  Jerusalem  and  its  surrotmdings 
and  locate  upon  it  the  above  places,  not  failing  to  search  out  the 
references  and  associate  the  events  with  their  localities. 

III.  We  draw  on  our  map  and  fix  in  our  memory  the  following 
Journeys: 

1.  On  Sunday,  the  First  Journey;  from  Bethany  to  the  Temple 
and  Return.  On  the  first  day  of  the  week  Jesus  left  Bethany,  en- 
tered in  triumphal  procession  into  Jerusalem,  looked  around  on  the 
Temple,  and  at  evening  returned  to  Bethany. 

2.  On  Monday,  the  Second  Journey;  from  Bethany  to  the  Tem- 
ple and  Return.  Early  in  the  morning,  without  waiting  for  break- 
fast, Jesus  left  Bethany  (Mark  11.  12),  and  crossed  the  ridge  of  the 
Mount  of  Olives,  on  the  way  cursing  the  barren  fig  tree.  He  cleansed 
the  Temple  of  its  traders,  and  at  evening  returned  again  to  Bethany 
(Mark  n.    19). 

3.  On  Tuesday,  the  Third  Journey;  from  Bethany  to  the  Temple 
and  Return.  This  was  the  last  day  of  Christ's  public  teaching,  clos- 
ing with  a  terrible  denunciation  of  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees. 
Toward  evening  he  went  out  of  the  Temple  for  the  last  time,  sat 
upon  the  Mount  of  Olives  with  his  disciples,  and  gave  to  them  his 
prediction  of  the  destruction  of  the  city  (Mark  13.    1-4). 

4.  On  Thursday  afternoon,  the  Fourth  Journey;  from  Bethany 


56  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

to  the  Supper  room.  Take  notice  that  no  journey  or  event  is 
named  by  any  evangelist  as  taking  place  on  Wednesday.  Probably 
the  day  was  passed  in  seclusion  and  meditation,  for  no  conversa- 
tions with  disciples  are  recorded.  On  Thursday  afternoon  Jesus 
with  his  disciples  left  Bethany  and  walked  over  the  mountain  and 
the  valley  to  Jerusalem  (Mark  14.  16,  17),  where  they  celebrated 
the  passover  and  partook  of  the  Last  Supper  together.  Afterward 
came  the  long  conversations  recorded  in  John  13  to  17. 

5.  On  Thursday,  at  about  midnight,  the  Fifth  Journey;  from 
the  Supper  room  to  Gethsemane.  The  Saviour  and  his  eleven  dis- 
ciples went  from  the  supper  room  into  the  silent  streets  of  Jerusalem, 
through  the  gate,  and  into  the  valley  of  Kedron.  They  crossed 
the  brook  and  entered  the  Garden  of  Gethsemane,  where  the  Agony 
took  place,  and  immediately  after  it  the  Arrest  (John  18.    1). 

IV.     We  now  pass  in  order  the  Events  of  these  five  days: 

1.  The  Triumphal  Entry.  (Sunday.)  (Mark  1 1 .  1-10.)  Com- 
pare the  accounts  and  note  the  additions  made  by  John.  (John 
12.  12-16.) 

2.  The  Barren  Fig  tree.  (Monday.)  (Mark  11.  12-14.)  This 
was  not  a  wanton  or  petulant  act  of  cursing.  The  tree  was  a  vivid 
picture  of  the  Jewish  state,  bearing  leaves  but  no  fruit,  and  thejnir- 
acle  was  wrought  as  a  warning  of  impending  doom. 

3.  Cleansing  the  Temple.  (Monday.)  (Mark  11.  15-17.)  Once 
before,  in  the  beginning  of  his  ministry,  Jesus  had  purged  the  Tem- 
ple (John  2.  13-16).  But  the  former  abuses  had  crept  in  again, 
and  Christ  again  proclaimed  his  authority  in  his  Father's  house. 

4.  The  Last  Discourses.  (Tuesday.)  (Mark  11.  27;  12.  44.) 
On  this  day  Jesus  met  ami  vanquished  in  debate  successively  the 
rulers  (Mark  1 1.  27-33)  '•  the  Pharisees  (Mark  12.  1-12;  Matt.  21.  45) 
the  Hcrodians  (Mark  12.  13-17);  the  Sadducees  (Mark  12.  18-27); 
and  the  scribes  (Mark  12.  28-37).  He  closed  his  ministry  with  a 
rebuke  to  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  (Matt.  23.  1-39);  and  after 
commending  the  gift  of  the  widow  (Mark  12.  41-44)  went  out  of 
the  Temple,  never  to  return  (Mark  13.   1,  2.) 

5.  The  Prophecy  of  the  Last  Things.  (Tuesday.)  In  the  after- 
noon of  tli at  day  Jesus  sat  with  Ins  disciples  on  the  Mount  of  ( )lives, 
and  looking  down  upon  the  city  gave  a  prophecy  to  his  disciples, 
mingling  the  predictions  of  the  city's  overthrow  and  of  the  end  of 


The  Week  of  the  Passiox  57 

the  world  (Mark  13.  1-37).  In  Matthew  arc  added  two  parables — 
the  Ten  Virgins  (Matt.  25.  1-13),  and  the  Talents  (Matt.  25.  14-30), 
and  also  the  description  of  the  Last  Judgment  (Matt.  2^,.   31-46). 

6.  The  Retirement  at  Bethany.  (Wednesday.)  Inasmuch  as 
none  of  the  gospels  mention  any  event  of  Wednesday  we  assume 
that  the  day  was  passed  in  retirement. 

7.  The  Last  Supper.  (Thursday.)  On  the  afternoon  of  Thurs- 
day Jesus  went  to  Jerusalem  with  the  Twelve,  partook  of  the  Pass- 
over, and  at  its  close  instituted  the  Lord's  Supper  (Mark  14.    I.'-u). 

8.  The  Last  Conversation.  (Thursday  evening.)  (John  14  to  iS.) 
After  the  Supper  the  long  conversation  took  place  recorded  in  full 
by  John,  and  scarcely  mentioned  in  the  other  gospels. 

9.  The  Agony  in  the  Garden.  (Thursday,  midnight.)  Late  at 
night  Jesus  crossed  the  brook  Kedron  and  entered  the  Garden  of 
Gethsemane,  where  the  Agony  came  upon  him      (Mark  14.   32-42). 

Blackboard  Outline 

The  Week  of  the  Passion 

* ""* 

I.     Gen.  Vi.      1.   La.  Vis.  Jer.      2.   Fi.  D.a     3.   Ne.  Jer. 
II.  Pla.    i.Beth.   2.  Tern.  3.  Sup.-ro.  4.  Mo.  Oli.   5  Gar.Geth. 
III.      Jour.      1.    (Sun.)   Be.  Tern.    Re.      2.   (Mon.)    Be.  Tern. 
Re.     3.    (Tu.)    Be.   Tern.  Re.     4.    (Thu.)    Be.   Sup.-ro; 
5.    (Thu.)  Sup.-ro.  Geth. 
IV.      Events.     1.  Tri.  Ent.  (Sun.)      2.   Bar.  Fig.   tr.      (Mon.) 
3.     CI.  Tern.  (Mon.)     4.  La.  Dis.  (Tue.)     5.  Pro.  La.  Th. 
(Tue.)      6.     Ret.    Beth.  (Wed.)      7.     La.  Sup.    (Thu.) 
8.     La.  Con.  (Thu.)      9.  Ag.  Gar.  (Thu.) 
* 

Questions  for  Review 

Where  did  the  events  of  this  period  take  place?  Between  what  days  did 
they  occur?  In  what  village  did  Jesus  pass  most  of  the  nights  of  this  week? 
Where  was  the  Last  Supper  partaken?  Where  did  Jesus  begin  his  triumphal 
entry  into  the  city?  What  journey  took  place  on  the  Sunday  of  this  week? 
On  Monday?  On  Tuesday?  On  Thursday  afternoon?  Name  the  events 
of  Sunday:      Of   Monday.      Of  Tuesday.      Of  Wednesday.      Of   Thursday. 


NINTH  STUDY 
The  Day  of  the  Crucifixion 

From  the  Betrayal  to  the  Burial  of  Jesus 

1.  General  View  of  the  Period. 

i.  This  period  embraces  the  events  of  but  one  day  in  the  life  of 
Jesus.  It  was  the  day  following  the  Passover  Day,  and  therefore  the 
fifteenth  of  the  month  Nisan,  in  the  Jewish  year.     See  Num.  28.   16. 

The  betrayal  of  Jesus  took  place  a  little  after  midnight,  on  Fri- 
day morning,  and  the  biirial  about  sunset  on  the  same  day;  so  that 
the  transactions  of  the  period  include  about  eighteen  hours. 

2.  It  was,  however,  an  eventful  day  in  the  life  of  Jesus.  No  day 
in  all  Bible  story  is  narrated  with  the  fullness  of  this  day.  Nearly 
one-twelfth  of  the  matter  in  the  four  gospels  is  occupied  with  the 
account  of  this  one  day.  If  the  whole  story  of  Christ's  life  were 
written  out  with  equal  completeness  to  this  one  day's  record  it 
would  require  more  than  four  hundred  volumes  as  large  as  the  New 
Testament. 

3.  It  was  an  important  day;  the  most  important  in  the  history 
of  the  world.  Notice  in  the  epistles  how  much  more  is  said  of  the 
death  of  Christ  than  of  his  life.  See  1  Cor.  2.  2;  Gal.  6.  14:1  John 
1.  7.  Because  of  its  eventfulness  and  importance  we  should  give 
it  careful  study  and  place  in  order  its  events  as  a  separate  period  in 
the  life  of  Jesus  Christ. 

II  The  Places.  All  these  are  in  or  near  Jerusalem;  but  none 
of  them  can  be  identified  with  certainty.  Yet  it  is  well  to  know 
the  traditional  localities  and  to  fix  them  upon  the  map  of  the  city. 
There  are  five  places  named  in  the  story  of  this  day. 

1.  The  Garden  of  Gethsemane.  Here  Jesus  was  arrested,  im- 
mediately after  the  agony  (Mark  14.  43).  Sec  the  mention  of  t his 
locality  in  the  last  study. 

2.  The  High  Priest's  House  (Mark  14.  53,  54).  The  high  priest 
at  that  time  was  Caiaphas,  but  his  father-in-law.  Annas,  who  had 
been  deposed  by  the  Romans,  was  still  regarded  by  the  Jews  as  the 

58 


The  Day  of  the  Crucifixion  59 

legitimate  priest,  and  possessed  great  authority.  There  was  no 
special  "palace"  of  the  high  priest,  and  Annas  and  Caiaphas  may 
have  lived  in  the  same  group  of  buildings.  The  place  is  located 
by  tradition  on  Mount  Zion,  near  that  of  the  supper  room. 

3.  Pilate's  Palace  (Mark  15.  1-16).  The  Roman  capital  of  Judea 
was  not  in  Jerusalem,  but  at  Caesarea,  where  the  procurator  resided 
(Acts  23.  23,  24).  But  it  was  customary  for  the  governor  to  visit 
Jerusalem  at  the  time  of  Passover,  in  order  to  quell  any  dis- 
turbance at  that  time,  when  the  city  was  thronged.  Pilate  may 
have  made  his  headquarters  in  Jerusalem  either  in  the  castle  of 
Antonia,  north  of  the  temple  (referred  to  in  Acts  21.  34,  and  else- 
where), or  in  the  palace  of  Herod  the  Great  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  Mount  Zion,  the  place  now  occupied  by  the  (so-called)  Tower  of 
David.  The  latter  locality  is  accepted  by  the  best  of  the  recent 
authorities.  Here  Jesus  was  broiight  for  his  trial  and  sentence  by 
Pontius  Pilate. 

4.  Herod's  Palace.  At  that  time  Herod  Antipas,  tetrarch  of 
Galilee  and  Pera?a  (Luke  3.  1),  the  slayer  of  John  the  Baptist,  was 
present  in  Jerusalem  attending  the  Passover,  and  to  him  Jesus  was 
sent  by  Pilate  (Luke  23.  7).  His  abiding  place  was  probably  the 
old  Maccabean  palace,  about  midway  between  the  temple  and 
Pilate's  headquarters. 

5.  Calvary  or  Golgotha.  See  Luke  23.  ^^  and  Mark  15,  22  for 
the  two  names,  one  of  which  is  Greek,  the  other  Hebrew,  both  mean- 
ing "skull-like"  or  "the  place  of  skulls."  All  positively  known 
about  this  place  is  that  it  was  outside  the  wall,  but  near  the  city 
(John  19.  20).  Two  localities  are  given:  the  traditional  one,  north 
of  Zion  and  west  of  the  temple,  now  occupied  by  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Sepulcher;  the  other,  recently  coming  into  notice  and  accepted 
by  many  scholars,  a  hill  on  the  north  of  the  city,  containing  a  great 
cave  known  as  the  "Grotto  of  Jeremiah."  We  adopt  the  latter 
place  as  Calvary,  although  the  evidence  is  by  no  means  certain. 
The  place  of  the  cross  and  that  of  the  burial  were  in  the  same  focality 
(John  19.   41,  42). 

It  would  be  well  for  the  student  to  draw  a  rough  diagram  show- 
ing these  places  in  their  general  relation  to  each  other,  as  above. 

III.  We  notice  the  Journeys  of  Jesus  on  the  day  of  his 
crucifixion. 


6o 


Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 


i.  From  Gethsemane  to  the  High  Priest's  House.  From  the 
Garden  of  Gethsemane  Jesus  was  taken  to  the  high  priest's  house 
for  examination  bef<  ire  Annas  and  Caiaphas  (Luke  ::.   54.) 

2.  From  the  High  Priests  House  to  Pilate's  Palace.  After  ex- 
amination before  the  high  priests  and  the  Jewish  council  Jesus  was 
led  to  Pilate  for  another  trial  (Luke  23.    1). 


Calvary 

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PiJzte's       y                     TempleU 
Palace.--' 

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fiigh  Priest 's 

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3.  From  Pilate's  Palace  to  Herod's  Palace  and  return.  Pilate 
sent  Jesus  to  Herod  Antipas,  tetrarch  of  Galilee;  but  Herod  was  un- 
willing to  pass  judgment  upon  him  and  sent  him  back  (Luke  23. 
7-ii). 

4-  From  Pilate's  Palace  to  Calvary.  At  this  second  appear- 
ance before  Pilate  Jesus  was  condemned  to  death,  and  was  taken  to 
Cab  ary,  outside  the  wall.  Here  he  was  crucified  and  after  his  death 
was  buried  (John  19.    16,  17,  41). 


The  Day  of  the  Crucifixion  6i 

Let  the  student  draw  on  the  diagram  a  line  representing  each  of 
these  journeys  and  recall  the  events  associated  with  them. 

In  Jerusalem,  at  the  present  time,  there  is  a  street  known  as  Via 
Dolorosa,  "the  Sorrowful  Way,"  over  which  Jesus  is  believed  to 
have  carried  his  cross  from  Pilate's  judgment  hall  to  Calvary.  But 
in  our  view  both  Pilate's  judgment  hall  and  Calvary  are  wrongly 
located  by  tradition,  and  therefore  this  path  cannot  be  the  true 
"way  of  the  cross.  " 

IV.  The  Events.  We  may  group  all  the  transactions  of  this 
momentous  day  around  eleven  leading  events : 

i.  The  Betrayal  (Mark  14.  43-50).  This  was  in  the  Garden  of 
Gethsemane,  a  little  after  midnight,  and,  therefore,  on  Friday,  the 
15th  of  Nisan.     See  the  more  detailed  account  in  John  iS.    1-11. 

2.  Jesus  before  Annas  (John  18.  12,13).  This  was  a  prelimi 
nary  examination,  and  not  official  in  its  character. 

3.  Jesus  before  Caiaphas  (John  iS.  24).  Read  the  account  of 
the  event  in  Mark  14.  53-72.  By  comparing  the  four  accounts  we 
find  that  there  was  first  an  examination  before  the  high  priest  and 
such  of  the  council  as  could  be  gathered  (Mark  14.  55),  and  then 
later  a  trial  before  the  entire  Sanhedrin,  or  body  of  the  elders  (Luke 

22,  66),  at  which  Jesus  was  condemned  to  death.  Peter's  denial 
took  place  in  the  house  of  the  high  priest  (John  18.   24,  25). 

4.  Jesus  before  Pilate.  The  Jews  had  no  power  to  sentence  to 
death,  and  hence  were  compelled  to  bring  Jesus  before  Pilate  (John 
18.  28-32).  Notice  that  the  Jews  condemned  Jesus  on  one  ground, 
but  accused  him  before  Pilate  on  another  (Matt.  26.   65,  66;  Luke 

23.  2).  The  dialogue  of  Pilate  with  Jesus  is  given  in  John  18.  29- 
37.  Pilate  declared  Christ's  innocence  and  proposed  that  he 
should  be  released,  but  the  people  still  demanded  that  he  should 
be  put  to  death. 

5.  Jesus  before  Herod.  Pilate  was  unwilling  to  take  the  re- 
sponsibility either  of  putting  to  death  an  innocent  man  or  of  offend- 
ing the  Jews  by  releasing  him.  He  therefore  sent  him  to  Herod. 
But  Herod  also  refused  to  judge  the  case  and  after  mocking  Jesus 
sent  him  back  to  Pilate  (Luke  23.  6-1 1). 

6.  Jesus  Condemned  to  Death.  After  Jesus  was  brought  back 
Pilate  still  endeavored  to  save  his  life.  But  instead  of  setting  him 
free  at  once  as  an  innocent  man  he  proposed  to  release  him  as  an  act 


62  Outline  Studies  in  the New.Testament 

of  good  feeling  at  the  Passover  festival.  The  Jews  ch<.se  Barabbas 
and  rejected  Jesus;  and  at  last  Pilate1  gave  unwilling  sentence  that 
Jesus  should  be  crucified.  He  was  then  delivered  to  the  soldiers  to 
be  mocked  and  tortured  (Luke  23.    [3-25). 

7.  Jesus  Bearing  his  Cross.  On  the  way  from  Pilate's  palace  to 
Calvary  Jesus  was  compelled  to  carry  one  of  the  beams  of  his  own 
cross  (John  19.  17).  A  part  of  the  way  his  cross  was  carried  by  a 
man  named  Simon,  of  Cyrene,  in  Africa  (Mark   15.    21). 

8.  Jesus  on  the  Cross.  At  Calvary  Jesus  was  fastened  to  the 
cross  by  nails  through  his  hands  and  feet  (Luke  23.  33;  John  20.  25). 
He  was  crucified  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  lived  until  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  (Mark  15.  25-34).  The  stupefying  potion 
offered  to  him  before  he  was  crucified  (Mark  15.  23).  Note  the 
four  versions  of  the  superscription  (Matt.  27.  37;  Mark  15  26;  Luke 
23.  38;  John  19.    19).     The  witnesses  (John  19.    25). 

9.  The  Seven  Words  from  the  Cross.  The  first  word  (Luke  23. 
34).  The  second  word  (John  19.  26,  27).  The  third  word  (Luke 
23.  43).  The  fourth  word  (Matt.  27.  46).  The  fifth  word  (John 
19.  28).  The  sixth  word  (John  19.  30).  The  seventh  word  (Luke 
23.   46). 

10.  The  Death  on  the  Cross.  The  fact  (Mark  15.  37).  A  re- 
markable testimony  (Mark  15.  39).  A  remarkable  event  (Matt.  27. 
51-53).     An  evidence  of  his  death  (John  19.   32-35). 

11.  The  Burial.  Why  the  body  was  taken  away  (John  19.  31). 
How  it  was  obtained  (John  19.  38).  The  preparation  (John  19.39, 
40).  The  place  of  burial  (Matt.  27.  59,  60).  The  witnesses  (Matt. 
27.  61).     Thesealingof  the  tomb  (Matt.  27.  62-66). 

Blackboard  Outline 
Day  of  Crucifixion 


* 


I.     Gen.  Vie.      1.  On.  Da.      2.   Ev.  Da.      7,.    Imp.  Da. 
II.     Pla.      1.     Gar.    Geth.       2.     H.     P.    Ho.      3.   Pil.    Pal. 
4.   Her.  Pal.      5.  Cal.  Gol. 

III.  Jour.      1.     Geth.    H.-p.    Ho.     2.    H.-p    Ho.    Pil.    Pal. 

3.   Pil.  Pal.  Her.  Pal.  Re.     4.   Pil.  Pal.  Calv. 

IV.  Events.      i.Betr.      2.  T- bef.  Ann.     3.  T.bef.  Cai.     4.  T- 

bef.  Pil.     5.  T.bef   Her.     6.  J.  Con.  Dea.     7.  J.  Bear. 
Cro.   S.J.onCro.   (,   Sc\   Wo  Cro.    to.  De.Cro.    11.  Bur 


The  Day  of  the  Crucifixion  63 

Questions  for  Review 

How  long  was  this  period?  What  was  its  date  in  the  Jewish  year?  What 
shows  that  it  was  an  eventful  day?  Why  was  this  the  most  important  day 
in  the  world's  history?  What  are  the  five  places  named  in  this  period?  State 
the  probable  location  of  each  place.  Name  four  journeys  of  this  period. 
Name  eleven  events  of  this  period.  Before  what  rulers  was  Jesus  brought 
for  examination  or  trial?  State  the  seven  utterances  of  Jesus  on  the  cross. 
What  took  place  at  the  moment  of  Jesus's  death?  Why  was  the  body  buried 
so   soon?      Why    was  the  tomb   sealed?      Who   witnessed   the   burial? 


TENTH  STUDY 
The  Forty  Days  of  Resurrection 

From  the  Resurrection  to  the  Ascension  of  Christ 

1.  The  Necessity  of  Christ's  Resurrection.  Strange  as  the  res- 
urrection  may  appear  to  men  in  general,  and  unexpected  as  it  was 
to  the  disciples  of  Jesus,  it  was  the  necessary  completion  of  his 
work  on  earth. 

i.  It  was  necessary  from  the  nature  of  Christ.  A  divine  man, 
it  was  impossible  that  he  should  be  held  in  the  grave  (Acts  2.  24). 
His  resurrection  showed  that  he  was  the  Son  of  God  (Rom.  t.  4). 

2.  It  was  necessary  for  the  fulfillment  of  prophecy.  Jesus  him- 
self deelaivd  that  the  prophecies  pointed  to  his  resurrection  (Luke 
24.  45,  46).  The  apostles  constantly  appealed  to  the  Old  Testa- 
ment prophecies  (Acts  13.   34,  35;  26.   22,  23;  1  Cor.  15,  4). 

3.  It  was  necessary  for  the  work  of  redemption.  lie  lived  as  our 
example,  and  he  must  appear  before  God  as  our  high  priest  and 
mediator  (Rom.  4.    25;  8.    34:  1  Cor.  15.  17). 

4.  It  was  necessary  fur  the  faith  of  the  disciples.  If  Christ  had 
not  risen  the  world  would  never  have  heard  of  his  life  and  the 
church  would  never  have  existed    (1   Cor.  15.   10,  20;    1  Pet.  1.  3). 

5.  It  was  necessary  to  attest  Christ's  authority.  But. for  the 
resurrection  the  name  of  Jesus  could  have  possessed  no  more 
weight  than  any  other  name.  Raised  from  the  dead  he  has  all 
power  (Matt.  28.    18;  Acts  13.  33:17.  31). 

6.  It  was  necessary  as  a  pledge  of  our  resurrection.  If  Christ 
rose  we  too  shall  rise  (Acts  26.   23;  1  Cor.  15.   12,20-23). 

1 1 .      The  Fact  of  Christ's  Resurrection. 

1 .  It  was  proved  by  the  testimony  of  witnesses.  See  Acts  1.  3  ; 
2.  32.  The  conduct  of  the  disciples  before  and  after  the  resurrec- 
tion was  in  itself  a  proof .  Before  they  were  in  sorrow  (Mark  16.  10; 
Luke  24.  17).  Afterward  they  were  glad  (Luke  24.  52;  John  20. 
20).  The  Christian  Church  to-day  is  the  besl  evidence;  for  without 
the  resurrection  it  could  never  have  been  established. 

64 


The  Forty  Days  of  Resurrection       65 

2.  It  was  effected  by  the  power  of  God.  (Acts  3.  15;  Rom.  8. 
11 ,  Eph.  1.  20).  Jesus  speaks  of  his  own  power  in  connection  with 
this  (John  2.  19:10.  18).  The  Holy  Spirit  is  also  mentioned  as  rais- 
ing Christ  from  the  dead  (1  Peter  3.    18). 

3.  It  took  place  on  the  first  day  of  the  week.  (Mark  16.  9).  In 
commemoration  of  this  event  the  first  day  of  the  week  was  observed 
by  the  early  Church  (Acts  20.  7;  1  Cor.  16.  2).  The  name  given 
to  this  day  (Rev.  1.    10). 

4.  It  took  place  on  the  third  day  after  his  death.  The  body  of 
Jesus  was  in  the  grave  between  thirty  and  thirty-six  hours — from 
sunset  on  Friday  to  daybreak  on  Sunday.  But  in  the  Jewish  nota- 
tion of  time   this  was  three  days  (Luke  24.  46;  Acts  10.  40;   1  Cor. 

IS-  4). 

III.  The  Ten  Appearances  of  Jesus  after  his  Resurrection.  It 
is  not  easy,  perhaps  not  possible,  to  harmonize  precisely  all  the 
accounts  in  the  gospels  and  in  1  Cor.  15.  4-7.  But  the  best 
authorities  unite  [in  the  following  order  of  the  manifestations  of 
Christ  between  the  resurrection  and  the  ascension : 

1.  To  Mary  Magdalene  (Mark  16.  9) .  This  was  at  the  sepulcher, 
very  soon  after  the  resurrection.  Several  women  went  to  the 
sepulcher,  found  it  open,  and  were  told  by  an  angel  that  Jesus  had 
risen.  They  went  to  bear  the  news  to  the  disciples  (Mark  16.  i-S; 
Matt.  28.  1-8;  Luke  24.  1-10).  Mary  Magdalene  returned  after 
the  rest  had  gone  and  saw  the  risen  Lord  (John  20.  1-18).  Notice 
that  this  Mary  is  to  be  carefully  distinguished  from  Mary  of 
Bethany,  John  11.  2,  and  from  the  unnamed  woman  in  Luke  7.  37. 

2.  To  the  other  women  (Matt.  28.  9).  This  was  near  the  sepul- 
cher, a  few  minutes  later  than  the  first  appearance.  The  names  of 
these  women  (Mark  16.    1;  Luke  24.    10). 

3.  To  two  disciples  (Luke  24.  13-32).  The  place  where  Jesus 
was  revealed  (Luke  24.  13).  The  name  of  Luke's  probable  inform- 
ant Luke  24.    18). 

4.  To  Peter  (Luke  24.  ^t,,  34;  1  Cor.  15.  5).  This  was  in  Jeru- 
salem.     What  took  place  at  this  meeting  has  not  been  revealed. 

5.  To  ten  disciples  (Luke  24.  36-43).  Another  account  in  John 
20.  19-25.  This  was  in  the  upper  room  in  Jerusalem,  where  the 
Last  Supper  had  been  partaken,  and  it  was  on  the  evening  of  the 
day  of  resurrection. 


66  Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestamext 

6.  To  eleven  disciples  (John  20.  26-29).  This  was  in  the  same 
I  lace  a  week  later. 

7.  To  seven  disciples  at  the  Sea  of  Galilee  (John  21.  1-22).  At 
this  interview  Peter  was  reinstated  in  his  apostleship. 

8.  To  five  hundred  disciples  ( 1  Cor.  15.  6).  This  was  the  official 
manifestation  of  Christ  appointed  before  his  death  (Matt.  26.  32;  28. 
16).  It  took  place  "on  the  mountain"  (Rev.  Ver.),  probably 
where  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  was  preached.  At  this  time  the 
great  commission  was  given  (Matt.  28.    18-20). 

9.  To  James  ( 1  Cor.  15.  7).  Nothing  is  known  about  this  meet- 
ing. The  relationship  of  James  to  Jesus  (Mark  6.  3;  Gal.  1.  19). 
Allusions  to  him  in  Acts  15.  [3;  21.  18.  His  epistle  (James  1.  1). 
Probably  this  appearance  was  in  Jerusalem  (Acts  1 .    14). 

10.  The  Ascension  (Luke  24.  50-53;  Acts  1.  9).  This  was  at 
Bethany,  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Moimt  of  Olives  (Acts  1.  12). 
The  promise  at  his  departure  (Acts  1.    10,  11). 

This  list  of  appearances  should  be  carefully  memorized  and  the 
place  of  each  noted  on  the  map,  with  its  circumstances  and  events. 

IV.  The  Traits  of  the  Risen  Christ.  There  were  some  respects 
in  which  Jesus  after  his  resurrection  was  the  same  as  he  had  been 
1  lefi  ire;  but  there  were  also  s<  >me  essential  differences. 

1.  He  was  the  very  same  Jesus.  It  was  not  a  spirit,  a  disem- 
bodied ghost,  which  appeared  to  the  disciples.  He  possessed  per- 
sonal identity,  and  was  the  living  one  whom  the  disciples  had  known 
before.     See  Luke  24.   39,  40;  John  20.  27. 

2.  He  appeared  only  occasionally.  He  did  not  come  to  remain 
with  his  people,  for  it  was  better  for  them  that  he  should  go  away 
(John  16.  7).  He  manifested  himself  after  his  resurrection  often 
enough  to  strengthen  faith,  but  not  enough  to  lead  his  disciples 
to  lean  upon  his  presence. 

3.  He  appeared  to  his  disciples  only  (Acts  10.  40,  41).  Why  he 
did  not  appear  to  unbelievers  (Luke  if>.  31).  His  personal  min- 
istry was  ended,  anil  henceforth  he  was  to  speak  to  men  through 
his  messengers  (2  Cor.  5.    10,  20). 

4-  He  possessed  a  spiritual  body.  There  is  a  spiritual  bod) 
( 1  ''or.  [5,  |o-h>  Christ  possessed  such  a  body,  uncontrolled  by 
physical  law,  but  dominated  by  the  spirit.  He  came  and  went  at 
will  (Luke  24.    36;  John  20.   19).      He  withheld  himself  from  recog- 


The  Forty  Days  of  Resurrection       67 

nition  or  permitted  it  as  he  chose  (Luke  24.  15,  16;  24.  30,  31; 
John  20.  14-16;  21.  4-7).  With  us  the  body  limits  the  spirit;  with 
him  the  spirit  controlled  the  body. 

5.  He  recognized  individuals  after  his  resurrection.  The  grave 
had  not  blotted  out  his  memory  of  the  past  nor  of  his  personal  regard 
for  people.  He  called  his  friends  by  name  after  his  resurrection 
(Matt.  28.  10;  John  20.  16;  20.  26;  21.  15).  He  showed  the  same 
spirit  of  affection,  of  tenderness,  and  of  patience  with  the  mistakes 
of  his  followers  as  he  had  shown  during  his  earthly  life.  His  gentle- 
ness toward  a  sorrowing  woman  (John  20.  11-15).  His  kindness 
toward  a  doubting  disciple  (John  20.  24-20).  His  forgiveness  of  a 
denying  disciple  (John  21.  15-19).  Such  were  the  traits  which  he 
bore  away  from  earth,  and  such  are  the  traits  which  he  bears  still 
on  his  throne. 

Blackboard  Outline 

The  Forty  Days  of  Resurrection 
* * 

I.      Nee.  Chr.  Res.      1.   Nat.  Ch.      2.  Ful.  pro.     3.  Wo.  red. 

4.  Fai.  dis.      5.  Att.  Chr.  auth.      6.   PI.  ou.  res. 
II.      Fac.  Chr.  Res.     1.  Pro.  tes.  wit.     2.  Eff .  pow.  G.    3.  Fir. 

da.  we.     4.   Th.  d.  af.  de. 

III.  Ten.   App.   Je.  af.   Res.      1.   Ma.  Mag.   [Sep.]     2.   Oth. 
worn.    [Sep.]        3.    Tw.    dis.    [Emm.]      4.    Pet.    [Jer.] 

5.  Ten  dis.  [Jer  |  6.  Elev.  dis.  [Jer.]  7.  Sev.  dis. 
[Sea  Gal.]  8.  Fiv.  hun.  dis.  [Mt.  Gal.]  9.  Jas.  [Jer.[ 
10.  Asc.  [Beth.] 

IV.  Tra.  Ris.  Chr.      1.   Ver.  sa.  Jes.      2.  Ap.  on  occ.     3.  To 
dis.  on.     4.   Pos.  spir.  bod.      5.   Rec.  ind. 

*  * 

Questions  for  Review 

Why  was  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  a  necessity?  What  proves  the 
fact  of  the  resurrection?  How  was  the  resurrection  effected?  When  did  it 
take  place  ?  How  long  after  the  death  of  Jesus  was  his  resurrection  ?  How 
many  times  did  Jesus  appear  after  his  resurrection?  To  whom  did  he  appear 
first?  What  were  the  circumstances  of  this  appearance?  What  were  the  five 
appearances  on  the  day  of  resurrection?  Name  the  instances  when  Jesus 
appeared  during  the  forty  days  after  the  resurrection  day.  What  were  the 
traits  of  the  risen  Christ?  What  was  the  nature  of  his  body  after  his  resur- 
rection? 


ELEVENTH  STUDY 
The  New  Testament  World 

We  have  seen  that  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ  while  on  earth  was 
limited  to  the  land  of  Palestine.  But  in  a  few  years  the  church 
founded  by  his  apostles  overstepped  the  boundaries  of  that  land; 
and  its  scope  became  world-wide.  Therefore  as  we  begin  the 
history  of  the  Early  Church  it  becomes  necessary  for  us  to  study  the 
New   Testament    World. 

Comparing  the  maps  before  us  with  that  of  the  Old  Testament 
World  we  find  that  in  the  four  centuries  between  the  events  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testaments  the  dominion  of  the  world  passed  from 
Asia  to  Europe,  and  Jerusalem,  which  had  been  in  the  center, 
became  one  of  the  cities  upon  the  extreme  east.  Hence  our  map 
moves  with  the  course  of  the  empire  westward  a  thousand  miles. 

1.  We  draw  the  outlines  of  the  most  important  Seas.  These 
are: 

i.  The  Mediterranean  Sea,  from  its  eastern  limits  as  far  west  as 
Italy       Voyages  on  it   are  referred  to  in  Acts  r>-  30;    13.  4;    21.  1,  2; 

27-  3- 

2.  The  Sea  of  Galilee,  associated  with  the  life  of  Christ.  Find 
its  three  different  names  in  Matt.  15.  2c>;  John  6.  1;   Luke  5.  1. 

3.  The  Dead  Sea,  not  named  in  the  New  Testament. 

4.  The  Black  Sea,  north  of  Asia  Minor. 

5.  The  .5lgean  Sea,  between  Asia  Minor  and  Greece.  Voyages 
upon  it  (Acts  16.  r  1 ;    18.18;    20.13-15). 

6.  The   Adriatic   Sea,   between   Greece   and  Italy  (Acts  27.  27). 
II       In  these  seas  are  many  Islands,  of  which  we  name  five  of 

the  most  noteworthy  in  New  Testament  history: 

1.  Cyprus,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the   Mediterranean  (Acts 

4-  36;  13  4) 

2.  Crete,  south  of  the  JBgean  Sea,  between  Asia  Minor  and 
Greece  (Acts  27.  7;   Titus  1    5) 

68 


The  New  Testament  World 


69 


3.     Patmos,  in  the  ^Egean  Sea,  not  far  from  Ephesus   (Rev.  1.9). 
4-      Sicily,  southwest  of  Italy  (Acts  28.  12). 
5.     Melita,  now  Malta,  south  of  Sicily  (Acts  28.  1). 
III.      We  locate  the  different  Provinces,  arranging  them  in  four 
groups. 


1.  Those  on  the  continent  of  Europe  are :  1.)  Thrace.  2.)  Mace- 
donia (Acts  14.  9,  10;  20.  1-3).  3.)  Greece,  also  called  Achaia 
(Acts  18.  12;  20.  3).  4.)  Illyricum  (Rom.  15.  19).  5.)  Italy 
(Acts  27,  1). 


yo  Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestament 

2.  Those  on  the  continent  of  Africa  are:  i.)  Africa  Proper. 
2.)  Libya  (Acts  2.  10)       3.)    Egypt  (Matt.  2.  13) 

3.  Those  on  the  continent  of  Asia,  exclusive  of  Asia  Minor,  are: 
1.)  Arabia,  perhaps  referring  to  the  desert  region  southeast  of  Pales- 
tine (Gal.  1-17).  2.)  Judea,  the  Jewish  name  for  all  Palestine,  in 
the  New  Testament  period  (Luke  1.  5).  3)  Phoenicia  (Mark  7.  24; 
Acts  15.  3;  21.  2).  4.)  Syria,  north  of  Palestine  (Acts  15.  41; 
^o.  3). 

4.  The  provinces  in  Asia  Minor  are  so  frequently  mentioned  in  the 
Acts  and  Epistles  that  it  is  necessary  for  the  student  to  learn  their 
names  and  locations.  We  divide  the  fourteen  provinces  into  four 
groups. 

(a)  Three  on  the  Black  Sea,  beginning  on  the  east.  1.)  Pontus 
(Acts  18.  2).      2.)  Paphlagonia.     3.)   Bithynia  (Peter  1.  1). 

(6)  Three  on  the  ^Egean  Sea,  beginning  on  the  north.  4.) 
Mysia  (Acts  16.  7).  5.)  Lydia.  6.)  Caria.  These  three  prov- 
inces together  formed  the  district  known  as  "Asia"  (Acts  2. 
9,   19.  10). 

(c)  Three  on  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  beginning  on  the  west.  7.) 
Lycia  (Acts  27.  5).  8.)  Pamphylia  (Acts  13.  13).  9.)  Cilicia 
(Acts  21.  39). 

(d)  Five  in  the  interior.  10.)  On  the  north,  Galatia  (Gal.  1.  2). 
11.)  On  the  east,  Cappadocia  (Acts  2.9).  12.)  On  the  southeast, 
Lycaonia  (Acts  14.6).  13.)  On  the  southwest,  Pisidia  (Acts 
13.  14).      14.)   On  the  west  Phrygia  (Acts  1  6.  6). 

IV.     We  notice  the  twelve  most  important  Places. 

1.  Alexandria,  the  commercial  metropolisof  Egypt  (Acts  18.  24). 

2.  Jerusalem,   the  religious  capital  of  the  Jewish  world  (Ma)!. 
4.  5;   Luke  24.  47). 

3.  Cajsarea,  the  Roman  capital  of  Judea  (Acts  1  o.  1 ;    23.  23,  24). 

4.  Damascus,  in  the  southern  part  of  Syria  (Acts  19.  3). 

5.  Antioch,  the  capital  of  Syria,  in  the  north  (Acts  11.26;  13.  1). 

6.  Tarsus,  the  birthplace  of  St.  Paul,  in  Cilicia  ( Acts  22.  3). 

7.  Ephesus,  the  metropolis  of  Asia  Minor,  in  the  province  of 
Lydia  (Acts  19.  1). 

8.  Philippi,  in  Macedonia,  where  the  gospel  was  first  preached  in 
Europe  (Acts  16.  12). 


The  New  Testament  World  71 

9.  Thessalonica,  the  principal  city  in  Macedonia  (Acts  17.  1; 
Thessi.i). 

10.  Athens,  the  literary  center  of  Greece  (Acts  17.  16). 

11.  Corinth,  the  political  capital  of  Greece  (Acts  18.  1-12). 

12.  Rome,  the  imperial  city  (Acts  28.  16;    Rom.  1.  7). 

Other  lands  and  places  arc  referred  to  as  Elam,  Parthia.and  Media, 
all  east  of  the  Euphrates  river  (Acts  2.9).  Ethiopia,  south  of  Egypt 
in  Africa  (Acts  8.  27),  and  Babylon  on  the  Euphrates  (1  Peter  5.  13) ; 
but  these  places  are  outside  the  general  history  of  the  church. 

Hints  to  the  Teacher  and  Her  Class.     Eleventh  Study 

In  teaching  this  lesson  let  the  conductor  sketch  the  outline  of  the  map  upon 
the  board  and  drill  upon  the  seas;  then  draw  and  name  the  islands;  then 
drill  upon  the  provinces,  etc.  Review  until  the  lesson  is  learned  by  all  the 
class. 

The  student  should  search  all  the  references  and  be  able  to  state  the 
events  connected   with  each   locality. 

It  would  be  well  for  the  student  to  find  additional  Scripture  references  to 
all   the   localities. 

Let  each  student  practice  the  drawing  of  the  map  at  home,  until  he  can  draw 
it  without  copy.  Then,  in  presence  of  the  class,  let  one  student  draw  on  the 
blackboard  in  presence  of  the  class  the  boundary  lines  of  the  continents;  or 
one  the  boundary  line  in  Asia;  another  in  Europe;  and  a  third  in  Africa. 
Then  let  another  draw  and  name  the  islands;  and  others  locate  and  name 
the  provinces  in  Asia,  Europe,  and  Africa;  and  finally  let  the  twelve  cities 
be  located  and  named. 

Blackboard  Outline 


T — — 

— — * 

I. 

Se.  Med.  Gal.  De.  Bl.  Mg.  Adr. 

II. 

Isl.     Cyp.  Cre.  Pat.  Sic.  Mel. 

III. 

Prov.     1.  Eur.     Thr.  Mac.  Gre.  (Ach.)  111.   It.     2.   Afr. 

Af.-Pr.  Lib.  Eg.     3.  Asi.  Ar.  Jud.   Phce.   Syr.     4.  As. 

Min.    (0)  Pon.  Paph.  Bit.     (6)  Mys.  Lyd.  Car.     (c)  Lye.  • 

Pam.  Cil.      (d)  Gal.  Cap.  Lye.  PL  Ph." 

IV. 

Pla.     Alex.  Jer.  Ca?s.  Dam.  Ant.  Tar.  Eph.  Phi.  Thes. 

Ath.  Cor.  Ro. 

* 

— A 

Questions  for  Review 

What    difference    is    to    be    noted    between    the    map    of    the    Old    Testament 
world    and    that   of   the    New?      Name    six    seas    in    the    New    Testament    world. 


72  Outline  Studies  i.\  the  NbwTestament 

State  the  location  of  each  of  these  seas.  Name  five  islands  in  the  New 
Testament  world.  Give  the  location  of  each  island.  Name  in  order  the 
provinces  in  Europe  in  the  New  Testament  world.  Name  the  provinces  in 
Africa.  Name  the  provinces  in  Asia,  exclusive  of  Asia  Minor.  Name  the 
provinces  of  Asia  Minor  bordering  on  the  Black  Sea.  Name  the  provinces  on 
the  Aegean  Sea.  Name  the  provinces  on  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  Name  and 
locate  each  of  the  interior  provinces.  What  city  of  the  New  Testament  world 
was  in  Africa?  What  cities  were  in  Judea  and  Syria?  What  cities  were  in 
Asia    Minor?      What  cities   were   in    Europe? 


TWELFTH  STUDY 

The  Synagogue 

Before  beginning  the  history  of  the  Early  Church,  we  must  study 
one  institution  which  formed  an  important  link  between  the  Old 
Testament  and  the  New;  and  more  than  any  other  institution  pre- 
pared the  way  for  the  gospel  throughout  the  Jewish  world.  That 
instittition  was   the   synagogue. 

I.  Its  Origin.  The  synagogue  arose  during  the  captivity,  when 
the  Temple  was  in  ruins  and  the  sacrifices  were  in  abeyance.  In  the 
land  of  captivity  the  people  of  God  met  for  worship  and  fellowship, 
and  out  of  their  meeting  grew  the  synagogue,  a  word  meaning  "a 
coming  together.  "  It  is  believed  that  the  institution  was  organized 
as  a  part  of  the  Jewish  system  bv  Ezra,  B.  C.  440. 

II.  Its  Universality.  There  was  but  one  temple,  standing  on 
Mount  Moriah,  and  only  those  who  journeyed  thither  could  attend 
its  services.  But  the  synagogue  was  in  every  place  where  the  Jews 
dwelt,  both  in  Palestine  and  throughout  the  world.  Wherever 
ten  Jewish  heads  of  families  could  be  found  there  a  synagogue  would 
be  established.  There  were  four  hundred  and  sixty  synagogues  in 
Jerusalem;  and  every  nationality  of  Jews  had  its    own  (Acts  6.  9). 

III.  The  Place  of  Meeting.  This  might  be  a  building  erected 
for  the  purpose,  or  a  hired  room,  or  even  a  place  in  the  open  air  (Acts 
16.13).  This  meeting  place  was  employed  for  secular  as  well  as 
religious  uses.  Courts  were  held  in  it,  and  sentence  was  adminis- 
tered (Acts  22.  19),  and  sometimes  a  school  for  teaching  the  law  was 
held  in  it.     Thus  the  synagogue  became  a  center  of  local  influence. 

IV.     Its   Arrangement.     Every  ancient  synagogue  contained  : 

1 .  An  "ark,  "  which  was  the  chest  for  the  sacred  rolls,  and  stood 
in  the  end  of  the  building  toward  Jerusalem. 

2.  Chief  seats,  elevated,  near  and  around  the  "ark,"  for  the 
elders  and  leading  men  (Matt.  23.  6). 

3.  A  desk  for  the  reader  standing  upon  a  platform, 

73 


74  Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestament 

4  Places  for  the  worshipers,  carefully  graded  according  to 
rank,  the  Gentile  visitors  having  seals  near  ihe  door  of  entrance. 

5.  A  lattice  gallery  where  women  could  worship  without  being 
seen. 

V.  Its  Officers.      These  were: 

1.  Three  rulers  of  the  synagogue,  who  directed  the  worship,  man- 
aged the  business  details,  and  possessed  a  limited  judicial  authority 
over  the  Jews  in  the  district  (Mark  4.  22;  Acts  13.  15).  One  of  these 
was  the  presiding  officer,  and  called   " ///e  ruler." 

2.  The  chazzan  (Lad-ce  4.  20,  ''the  minister"),  who  united  the 
functions  of  clerk,  schoolmaster,  sexton,  and  constable  to  admin- 
ister sentence  on  offenders. 

3.  The  bailanim,  "men  of  ease,"  seven  men  who  were  chosen  to 
act  as  a  legal  congregation,  were  pledged  to  be  present  at  the  regu- 
lar services,  and  sometimes  received  a  small  fee  for  being  present. 

VI.  Its  Services.  These  were  held  on  Saturday,  Monday,  and 
Thursday,  and  were  conducted  by  the  members  in  turn,  several 
taking  part  in  each  service.     They  consisted  of: 

1 .  Forms  of  prayer,  conducted  by  a  leader,  with  the  responses 
by  the  worshipers. 

2.  Reading  of  selections  from  the  law  and  the  prophets,  accord- 
ing to  an  appointed  order  (Acts  15.  21).  The  reading  was  in 
Hebrew,  but  it  was  translated,  verse  by  verse,  into  the  language  of 
the  people,  whether  Greek  or  Aramaic. 

3.  Exposition  or  comment  upon  the  Scripture,  in  which  any 
member  might  take  part  (Luke  4.  20,  21;  Acts  13.  15,  16). 

VII.  Its  Influence.  It  is  easy  to  perceive  how  widely  and  how 
powerfully  the  results  of  such  an  institution  would  reach. 

1.  It  perpetuated  the  w<  »rship  of  God  and  united  the  worshipers. 

2.  It  supplied  a  more  thoughtful  and  spiritual  worship  than  the 
elaborate  ritual  of  the  Temple. 

3.  It  promoted  the  study  of  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures  and 
made  them  thoroughly  familiar  to  every  Jew. 

4.  It  attracted  the  devout  and  intelligent  among  the  Gentiles, 
many  of  whom  became  worshipers  of  God  and  were  known  as 
"pioselytes  of  the  gate"  (Acts  10.  1,  2). 

VIII.  Its  Preparation  for  the   Gospel.      It   is  evident    that    the 


The  Synagogu e  75- 

apostles  and  early  Christian  teachers  were  greatly  aided  by  the  syna- 
gogue. 

1.  It  furnished  a  place;  for  everywhere  the  church  began  in  the 
synagogue,  even  though  it  soon    left   it    (Acts  13.  5;    18.4;    19.8). 

2.  It  prepared  a  people;  for  the  synagogue  was  attended  by  the 
earnest  and  thoughtful,  both  of  Jews  and  Gentiles,  who  were  thus 
made  ready  for  the  higher  truths  of  the  gospel  (Acts  13.  42,  43). 

3.  It  supplied  a  plan  of  service;  for  it  is  evident  that  the  early 
Christian  worship  was  modeled,  not  on  the  ritual  of  the  Temple,  but 
on  the  simpler  forms  of  the  synagogue. 

4.  It  gave  a  system  of  organization;  for  the  Government  of  the 
early  church  was  similar  to,  and  doubtless  sugested  by,  that  of  the 
synagogue. 

Blackboard  Outline 

* 

I.  Ori.     Cap.  Ez.  B.  C.  440. 

II.  Univ.     10  fam.     460  Jer. 

III.  PI.  Meet.     Buil.  ro.     op.  air.     sec.  us. 

IV.  Arr.   1.  Ark.   2.  Ch.  sea.   3.  Desk.   4.  Pla.  wor.   5.  Gal. 
V.  Off.     1.  Rul.     2.  Chaz.     3.  Batl. 

VI.     Serv.      1.   Pr.      2.   Read.  Ser.     3.   Exp. 
VII.     Inf.       1.  Per.    wor.     2.    Spir.    wor.     3.    St.     O.     T 

4.  Attr.  Gen. 
VIII.     Prep.  Gosp.      1.  Pla.     2.   Peo.     3.  Ser.     4.  Org. 

^ 4< 


Review  Questions 

Between  what  two  institutions  was  the  synagogue  a  link  of  connection?  How 
did  the  synagogue  originate?  Who  gave  it  definite  organization?  Wherein 
did  it  differ  from  the  temple  and  its  services?  Where  were  synagogues  formed? 
How  many  were  in  Jerusalem  ?  What  buildings  and  places  were  used  for  the 
synagoguge  service?  To  what  secular  uses  were  these  buildings  put?  What 
were  the  arrangements  of  the  synagogue?  Where  did  the  women  worship? 
What  was  "the  ark"  in  the  synagogue?  Who  were  the  officers?  What  was  the 
<haszan?  Who  were  the  batlanim?  What  were  the  services  of  the  synagogue? 
What  influence  did  the  synagogue  exert?  Whom  did  the  synagogue  benefit 
outside  of  the  Jews?     How  did  the  synagogue  prepare  the  way  for  the  gospel? 


THIRTEENTH   STUDY 

The  Church  in  Judea 

Part  One 

.Tom   the   Ascension   of    Christ    A.  D.  30,    to  the   Appointment  of 
the  Seven  A.  D.  35. 

We  now  enter  upon  the  second  great  subject  in  New  Testament 
history,  the  Early  Church.  This  will  include  the  annals  of  the 
church  from  the  Ascension  of  Christ,  A.  D.  30,  to  the  end  of  the 
apostolic  age,  A.  D.  100.  This  epoch  of  seventy  years  is  divided 
into  four  periods. : 

1.  The  church  in  Judea,  from  the  Ascension  of  Christ,  A.  D.  30, 
to  the  Appointment  of  the  Seven,  A.  D.  35. 

2.  The  church  in  Transition,  from  the  Appointment  of  the  Seven, 
A.  U.  35,  to  the  Council  at  Jerusalem,  A.  D.  50. 

3.  The  church  among  the  Gentiles,  from  the  Council  at  Jerusalem, 
A.  D.  50,  to  the  death  of  St.  Paul,  A.  D.  68. 

4.  The  End  of  the  Age,  from  the  death  of  St.  Paul  to  the  death  of 
St.  John,  about  A.  D.  100.  It  should  be  noted  that  all  of  these 
dates  are  uncertain  and  historians  are  not  agreed  with  reference 
to  them. 

Of  these  four  periods  we  take  up  the  first,  the  church  in  Judea, 
or  "The  church  of  the  First  Days;"  a  space  of  about  five  years. 
During  this  time  the  work  of  the  church  was  confined  wholly  to  the 
Jewish  people,  and  apparently  to  the  immediate  region  of  Jerusa- 
lem. 

I.      We  notice  the  Events  of  this  Period. 

1.  The  followers  of  Christ  immediately  after  the  Ascension;  a 
company  of  people  believing  in  Jesus  as  the  Messiah  of  Israel. 

1.)      Their  number  was    1  jo  (Acts   1.   15).      They    were  mostly 
from  Galilee  (Acts  2.7).     They  were  all  the  organized  church 
at  that  time,  although  throughout  the  land  were  thousands 
more  ready  to  unite  with  them. 
76 


The  Church  in  Judea  77 

2.)  Their  mating  place  was  "  the  upper  room"  (Acts  1.  13),  on 
Mount  Zion,  probably  the  room  where  the  "Last 
Supper"  was  held.  Some  think  that  this  may  have  been  the 
house  ( if  Mary  the  mother  of  Mark,  referred  to  in  Acts  12.  1.2. 

3.)  Their  religions  condition  between  the  Ascension  and  Pente- 
cost was  probably  that  of  belief  in  Jesus  as  the  King  of  Israel, 
but  with  the  conception  of  an  earthly  kingdom  (Acts  1.  6). 
They  were  waiting  with  prayer  for  divine  direction  (Acts 
1.    14). 

2.  The  Outpouring  of  the  Spirit  came  upon  this  company  on  the 
day  of  Pentecost,  ten  days  after  the  Ascension,  fifty  days  after  the 
Crucifixion.  The  spirit  descended  upon  them  all  in  the  form  of 
"  tongues  of  fire.  " 

1.)  Physical  effect.  This  was  "the  gift  of  tongues,"  a 
mysterious  influence  (Acts  2.  2,3).  This  was  not  a  power  to 
speak  foreign  languages  at  will;  but  probably  a  strange 
divine  speech,  sounding  to  everyone  who  heard  it  as  though 
it  were  the  language  of  his  own  people  (Acts  2.8). 

2.)  Mental  effect.  There  came  to  these  disciples  a  revelation, 
once  and  for  all,  of  Christ's  kingdom,  not  as  a  political  state, 
but  as  a  spiritual  institution ;  a  society  of  believers  of  which 
Jesus  in  glory  is  the  invisible  yet  real  head. 

3.)  Spiritual  effect.  This  was  the  personal  presence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  with  each  member;  an  indwelling  life  given  not 
merely  to  the  apostles,  but  to  each  and  every  disciple ; 
a  divine  enthusiasm,  giving  guidance,  enlightenment,  power. 
Nor  was  that  divine  life  limited  to  that  company.  It  has 
dwelt  ever  since  in  the  church  of  Christ,  and  in  each  mem- 
ber of  the  church,  (1  Cor.  3.    16;  6.    19.) 

3.  The  Testimony  of  the  Gospel.  1  )  The  first  effect  of  this  new 
endowment  of  the  Holy  Spirit  was  a  strong  testimony  to  the  gospel 
of  Christ;  a  proclamation  of  Jesus  as  the  Messiah  King;  and  this 
testimony  was  the  conquering  weapon  of  the  church.  2 .)  This  testi- 
mony was  given  by  all  the  members.  It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that 
the  church  settled  down  in  Jersualem  with  Peter  as  its  pastor  and 
preacher.  Peter  was  the  leader,  but  not  the  ruler  of  the  church. 
Find  four  addresses  of  Peter  sketched  in  Acts  2-5;  not  "sermons" 

after   the  modern  method,  but  ardent  declarations  of  Jesus  as  the 


78  Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestament 

Messiah;  and  similar  testimonies  were  given  by  all  the  members 
everywhere,  in  synagogues,  in  houses,  publicly  and  privately. 

4-  The  Apostolic  Miracles,  i .)  At  the  opening  of  the  history  of 
the  church  we  read  of  a  number  of  miracles,  a)  A  lame  man  healed. 
(Acts. 3.  1-10).  b)  A  miracle  of  judgment  (Acts  5.  1-10).  c)  More 
miracles  of  healing  (Acts  5.  12-16).  2.)  We  can  see  the  purpose 
of  these  miracles  and  how  they  were  needed  by  the  church  in  the  dav 
of  its  weakness,  (a)  They  attracted  attention  to  the  gospel  (b) 
They  gave  authority  to  the  apostles  as  teachers,  (c)  They  were 
illustrations  of  the  spiritual  work  of  the  gospel;  i.  e.,  healing  of  the 
lame  man  a  type  of  salvation. 

5.  The  Persecution  of  the  Apostles.  It  was  inevitable  that  the 
preaching  of  the  apostles  and  the  growing  prominence  of  the  church 
should  arouse  opposition  from  the  men  who  a  few  months  before  had 
crucified  Jesus.  A  persecution  was  begun,  at  first  upon  Peter  and 
John,  then  upon  all  the  apostles.  It  was  not  sharp,  murderous, 
crushing  out  the  church.  The  apostles  were  first  threatened  (Acts 
4.  17),  then  imprisoned  (Acts  5.  r8),  then  scourged  (Acts  5.  40). 
The  persecution  only  attracted  greater  notice  to  the  gospel,  and  led 
to  increasing  numbers  of  believers. 

6.  The  Growth  of  the  Church  went  on  through  all  these  experi- 
ences. Beginning  with  120,  on  the  day  of  Pentecost  3,000  were 
received  by  baptism  (Acts  2.  41).  There  was  a  daily  growth  after 
(Acts  2.  47).  Soon  the  number  grew  to  5.000,  besides  women  and 
children  (Acts  4.  4.)  Another  increase  is  named  in  Acts  5.  14;  also 
again  in  Acts  6.7. 

7.  The  last  event  in  this  period  was  the  Appointment  of  the 
Seven.  Read  the  account  in  Acts  6.  1-7.  Notice  for  the  first  time 
in  this  history  a  reference  to  the  two  great  classes  of  Jews.  1.) 
Hebrews,  Jews  whose  ancestors  had  lived  in  Palestine,  and  who  spoke 
the  Hebrew  tongue,  though  with  Syriac  admixture.  2.)  Grecian 
Jews  (frequentlv  called  Hellenists).  Jews  descended  from  exiles  who 
had  remained  abroad  in  foreign  lands,  otherwise  "Jews  of  the  Dis- 
persion." Everywhere  excepl  in  Palestine  these  foreign  Jews  were 
far  more  numerous  than  the  Hebrews,  and  they. were  also  the  richer 
and  more  intelligent.     They  spoke  the  Creek  language. 

Note  also  that  the  seven  men  named  in  this  account  are  nowhere 
spoken  of  as  "deacons. "     From  Acts  21.  8  we  learn  that  they  were 


The  Church  in  Judea  79 

called  "the  seven."     They  were  not  an  order  in  the  church,  but  a 
committee  appointed  for  a  service. 


Blackboard  Outline 


* 


Per.    1.   Ch.  Jud.      2.   Ch.  Trans.      3.   Ch.  am.  Gen.     4.  E.  A. 
Ch.  in  Jud.      1.   Ev.  Per. 

1.  Foil.  Ch.      1.)   Num.      2.)   Meet-pl.     3.)   Rel.    Con. 

2.  Out  Sp.      1.)   Phys.  eft".      2.)   Men.  err.     3.)   Spir.  eff. 

3.  Tes.  Gosp.      1.)   Jes.  Mess.  K.      2.)    By  all. 

4.  Ap.  Mir.      1.)   Num.  mir.      2.)   Pur.  Att.  Auth.  Illus. 

5.  Per.  Ap. 

6.  Gro.  Ch.     120,  3,000,  5,000.      "Multitude." 

7.  App.  Sev.     Heb.  Gre.  (Hellen.) 


* 


Review  Questions.     Part  One 

How  long  a  period  is  embraced  in  the  history  of  the  New  Testament 
church?  Name  four  periods  in  the  history,  and  the  events  with  which  each 
begins  and  ends.  How  long  a  time  is  embraced  in  the  first  period?  By  what 
name  is  the  first  period  called?  State  in  order  the  seven  events  in  the  first 
period.  What  was  the  number  of  Christ's  followers  in  Jerusalem  immediately 
after  his  Ascension?  Where  did  they  meet?  What  was  their  religious  condi- 
tion? What  took  place  ten  days  after  the  Ascension  of  Christ?  On  what 
day  did  this  outpouring  occur?  What  were  the  physical  effects  of  this  out- 
pouring? What  were  the  mental  effects?  What  were  the  spiritual  effects? 
What  testimony  was  given  by  the  apostles  and  church?  How  many  addresses 
of  Peter  at  this  time  are  mentioned?  What  miracles  were  wrought?  How  did 
these  miracles  benefit  the  church?  What  persecution  arose?  What  was  the 
nature  of  this  persecution?  Against  whom  was  it  directed?  Did  it  harm  the 
church"'  What  is  said  of  the  growth  of  the  church  during  this  epoch?  Who 
were  "the  seven"?  How  were  they  chosen?  For  what  were  they  appointed? 
What  two  classes  of  Jesus  are  named?     Define  each  class. 

Part    Two 

II.  Having  studied  the  history  we  now  look  at  the  General 
Aspects  of  the  Pentecostal  Church. 

1.  Its  locality:  entirely  in  Judea,  and  apparently  in  and  around 
Jerusalem.  There  is  no  mention  during  this  early  period  of  churches 
in  Galilee,  although  most  of  the  earliest  members  were  Galileans 
(Acts  1.  it;  2.  7).  Individual  believers  doubtless  were  to  be 
found    throughout    the    land,  but    outside  of  Jerusalem  they  were 


80  Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestament 

not  yet  gathered  together  in   assemblies    and    not  yet  endowed 
with    the  Spirit. 

2.  Its  membership  was  composed  wholly  of  Jews.  As  yet  not 
a  single  Gentile  had  been  received,  and  apparently  there  was  no 
thought  of  Gentile  believers.  Christianity  began  as  a  Jewish  society, 
Three  classes  of  Jews  were  embraced  in  its  membership:  i .)  Hebrews. 
or  Palestinian  Jews.  2.)  Grecians  or  Hellenists,  Jews  of  the  Dis- 
persion. 3.)  Proselytes,  or  Gentiles  who  had  embraced  Judaism 
and  received  circumcision  (Acts  6.   5). 

3.  The    qualifications    for    membership    were:     r .)   Repentance, 
which  meant  not  so  much  sorrow  as  decision  for  Christ.      2.)   Faith  in 
Jesus  as  Christ;  i.  e.,  submission  to  Jesus  as  the  true  King  of  Israel 
3.)  Baptism  in  the  name  of  Jesus  the  Christ  as  the  outward  form  of 
consecration. 

4.  The  spirit  of  the  Pentecostal  Church.  1.)  In  theory,  and  for 
the  most  part  in  fact,  every  member  possessed  the  Holy  Spirit,  an 
abounding,  directing  spiritual  life.  Every  member  was  conscious 
of  the  immediate  presence  of  God,  and  lived  in  this  fellowship.  2.) 
This  inspired  a  Christian  fellowsJiip,  the  love  of  the  brotherhood. 
3.)  As  a  result  of  this  divine  and  human  fellowship  came  liberal 
giving  to  each  other's  needs.  There  was  a  voluntary  and  limited 
"community  of  goods,"  the  rich  giving  freely  to  aid  the  poor; 
which  led  to  some  insincere  imitation.  See  the  contrast  of  Barnabas 
and  Ananias  (Acts  4.  34-37;  5.    1-11). 

5.  Doctrines.  The  doctrinal  aspects  of  Christianity  at  that 
early  period  were  less  prominent  than  its  spirit.  As  yet  there  was 
no  such  theological  system  as  arose  later.  Three  great  doctrines 
were  held  fervently:  1.)  The  resurrection  of  Jesus;  that  he  had 
risen  and  was  living.  2.)  The  Messiahship  of  Jesus;  that  he  was  the 
prince  of  the  true  spiritual  kingdom  of  Israel.  3.)  The  return  of 
Jesus  as  Christ;  that  he  would  soon  come  again  to  earth. 

6.  Worship  and  institutions.  These  wore:  1.)  The  temple 
worship  attended  by  the  disciples  of  Christ  as  by  all  worshiping 
Jews  (Acts  2.  46;  3.  1).  2.)  The  synagogue  services,  twice  each 
week;  held  everywhere  throughout  the  city;  with  Scripture  read- 
ing, prayer  and  testimony.  3.)  "The  upper  room"  was  for  a  time 
the  headquarters  of  the  church;  but  Solomon's  porch  in  the  temple 
soon  took  its  place  (Acts  5.   12).     4.)   "  Breaking  bread, "  which  was 


The  Church  in  Judea 


the  Hol3r Communion  or  the  Lord's  Supper;  at  that  time  observed  not 
in  public  assemblies  but  as  a  family  ordinance,  at  home  (Acts  2. 
42,  46).      5.)   The  baptism  of  new  members. 

7.  Government.  Scarcely  any  government  or  discipline  was 
needed  in  a  church  where  the  Spirit  of  God  was  recognized  as  dwell- 
ing in  each  member.  The  apostles  were  revered  as  leaders,  but 
were  not  exactly  rulers  over  the  body  of  believers.  "The  Seven" 
(Acts  6.  3)  were  not  officials  or  "deacons,"  but  laymen  charged 
with  specific  duties. 

8.  Literature.  1.)  The  Old  Testament;  familiar  to  all,  read  in 
the  synagogue,  was  seen  now  in  a  new  light  and  with  new  meaning. 
2.)  The  teachings  of  Jesus,  as  yet  unwritten,  were  in  the  memory  of 
most  of  the  members  who  had  heard  his  words;  and  especially  in  the 
memory  of  the  apostles;  but  no  books  of  the  New  Testament  were 
by  this  time  in  writing. 

9.  Leaders  of  the  church.  1.)  Throughout  this  period  Peter 
stands  at  the  front  as  the  ruling  spirit  of  the  church,  by  his  endow- 
ments of  mind,  and  especially  by  his  promptness  in  word  and  act 
2.)  With  him  stands  John  (Acts  3.  1;  4.  19.  3.)  Barnabas  won 
notice  by  his  liberality  and  gifts  of  preaching  (Acts  4.  36,37).  His 
name  means  "the  speaker"  or  "the  preacher."  4.)  At  the  end 
of  the  period   Stephen  comes  into  notice. 

Blackboard  Outline 


* 

II. 

Gen.  Asp.  Pen.  Ch. 

-* 

I . 

Loc.     Jud.   Jer. 

2. 

Mem.     Jews.      1.)    Heb.      2.)   Gre.  Hel.      3.)    Pros. 

3- 

Qual.  Mem.      1.)    Rep.      2.)   Fai.      3.)   Bap. 

4- 

Spir.      1.)    Poss.   H.   S.      2.)   Chr.  fell.      3.)   Lib.  giv. 

5  • 

Doc.      1.)   Res.  Jes.      2.)   Mess.  Jes.     3.)   Ret.  Jes. 

6. 

Worsh.   and  Inst.      1.)   Tern.      2.)   Syn.      3.)   "Up.  ro. 
4.)   "Bre.  br.  "      5.)   Bap. 

7- 

Gov.  Sp.  Apos.  Sev. 

8. 

Lit.     1.)  O.  T.  '2.)   Tea.  Jes. 

9- 

Lead.      1.)    Pet.      2.)  Jo.      3.)    Bar.      4.)   Ste. 

■j< 



-i< 

Review  Questions.   Part   Two 
Where    was   the   church    located    during  the    Pentecostal   period?      Were   there 
churches  or  members   in   Galilee?      To   what   race   did   all   the    members   belong? 


82  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

What  were  the  three  classes  in  its  membership?  Who  were  Hebrews?  Who 
were  Grecians?  By  what  other  name  wen-  they  calk-d  ?  Who  were  the 
"proselytes"?     What  were  the  requisites  for  membership  in  the  church?     What 

is  said  of  the  spirit  of  this  church?  How  <li<l  this  spirit  lead  the  members 
to  regard  each  other?  What  is  said  of  theii  gifts  t"  each  other?  Were  doctrines 
made  prominent  in  the  church?  What  three  doctrines  were  held  by  the  mem- 
bers? What  institutions  of  worship  were  maintained?  What  other  institutions 
were  observed?  What  is  meant  by  "breaking  bread"?  Where  was  this 
service  held?  What  is  said  as  to  the  government  of  the  church?  What  was 
the  position  of  the  apostles?  What  were  "the  seven"?  What  literature  did 
the  church  possess  at  this  time?  What  knowledge  did  they  have  of  the 
teachings  of  Jesus?     Who  were  the  leaders  of  the  church  in  tins  period? 


FOURTEENTH  STUDY 
The  Church  in  Transition 

From    the    Appointment    of    the    Seven,  A.  D.  35,  to  the   Council 
at  Jerusalem,  A.  D.  50. 

We  enter  upon  the  study  of  a  brief  period,  only  fifteen  years,  but 
of  supreme  importance  and  of  vast  results  to  the  world ;  a  period,  too, 
in  which  we  have  the  deepest  interest,  for  if  its  events  had  never 
taken  place  Christianity  would  have  been  only  a  Jewish  sect  and 
we  would  not  be  members  of  it. 

1.  At  its  opening,  35  A.  D.,  the  church  was  in  and  around  Jeru- 
salem only ;  and  every  member  was  a  Jew,  bound  by  the  restrictions 
of  the  Jewish  law  and  ceremony.  There  was  no  thought  that  the 
church  would  ever  include  Gentiles  except  as  Gentiles  might  first 
become  proselytes  to  Jitdaism. 

2.  At  its  close,  50  A.  D.,  we  see  a  church  planted  all  around 
the  northeastern  portion  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea;  and,  what  is 
even  more  remarkable,  a  church  wherein  Jews  and  Gentiles  were 
worshiping  together  on  terms  of  equality.  A  wonderful  transition 
this! 

I.  Let  us  draw  the  Map  of  the  Lands  occupied  by  the  church 
during  those  fifteen  years.  1 .  Draw  the  coast  line  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea.  2.  The  island  of  Cyprus.  3.  The  lands  east  of  the 
Mediterranean  Sea.  Judea  (or  Palestine),  Syria,  Phoenicia.  4. 
The  lands  north  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  in  Asia  Minor,  Cilicia, 
Pamphylia,  Pisidia,  Lycaonia.  5.  The  places:  Jerusalem,  Joppa, 
Ciesarea  and  Samaria  in  Judea,  Damascus  and  Antioch  in  Syria, 
Tarsus  in  Cilicia,  Antioch  in  Pisidia,  Lystra  and  Derbe  in  Lycaonia. 

II.  Let  us  carefully  note  the  Progress  of  Events  in  this  remark- 
able evolution  of  the  church. 

1.  The  Preaching  of  Stephen.  Stephen  was  a  Hellenist,  or  a 
Jew  of  foreign  origin.  He  was  the  man  who  first  had  the  vision  1  f 
a  church  wider  than  the  bounds  of  Judaism;  and  he  proclaimed  this 
great  truth.     See  evidences  of  this  in: 

1.)     The  new  and    bitter  enmity  which  his  teaching  aroused 
(Acts  6.  12). 

83 


84  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

2.)  The  accusation  against  him,  which  contained  a  half  truth 
(Acts  6.   ii,  13,  14). 

3.)  The  prominence  1  if  the  man,  and  his  discourse,  the  longest 
public  discourse  reported  in  the  New  Testament,  except  the 
Sermon  on  the  Mount  (Acts  7.    1-53). 

4.)  The  logical  aim  of  his  address:  to  show  that  the  Jews  had 
shown  themselves  unworthy  of  their  trust,  implying  that  it 
would  be  given  to  others.  This  sermon  was  never  finished, 
being  broken  up  by  the  riotous  acts  of  the  council. 

2.  Saul's  Persecution  (Acts  8.  1-3).  We  shall  study  this  man's 
early  history  later.  (See  page  96).  He  was  intense  and  furious 
in  his  loyalty  to  Judaism,  and  undertook  to  crush  out  the  gospel  of 
Christ  by  violent  measures.  SeeActS22.  4:26.  10,11;  Gal.  1.  13. 
1.)  As  a  result  the  Pentecostal  church  was  broken  up  and  its  mem- 
bers were  scattered.  2.)  But,  as  another  effect,  these  disciples  who 
were  scattered  went  everywhere  preaching  (Acts  8.  4).  These 
"preachers"  were  not  the  apostles;  they  were  lay-members;  not 
delivering  sermons,  but  testifying  in  country  synagogues  and  in 
homes  the  gospel  of  Christ.  3.)  Another  result  followed,  churches 
sprang  up  throughout  Judea  (Acts  9.  31),  Samaria  (Acts  8.  14),  and 
Syria  (Acts  9.  2,  10;  Acts  11.  19).  Thus  Saul  by  his  persecution 
unconsciously  aided   the  spread  of  the  gospel. 

3.  The  Gospel  in  Samaria  (Acts  8.  5-8).  One  of  these  dis- 
ciples, Philip  (not  the  apostle,  but  one  of  the  "seven"  Acts  6.  5), 
went  to  Samaria,  and  there  preached  with  great  success.  A  signifi- 
cant event,  showing  breadth  of  view  and  victory  over  prejudice. 
See  John  4.  9.  The  Samaritans  were  regarded,  not  exactly  as  Gen- 
tiles, but  as  irregular  and  inferior,  and  despised  even  more  than 
Gentiles.  Still  more  significant,  the  Samaritan  church  was  recog- 
nized by  the  apostles  and  received  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit  (Acts 
8.  14-17).  Note  also  that,  after  his  work  in  Samaria,  Philip  went 
down  to  the  coast  and  established  a  chain  of  churches  from  Azotus 
to  Caesarea  (Acts  8.  40). 

4.  Peter's  Vision  (Acts  10.  1-48),  and  the  events  accompanying 
it,  was  the  next  step  in  the  forward  movement  of  the  church.  The 
leading  apostle  and  most  prominent  man  in  the  church,  under  direc- 
tion of  tlie  Spirit,  journeys  thirty  miles  to  preach  t<>  a  little  company 
of  Gentiles;  the  Spirit  falls  upon  them,  another  Pentecost;  and  Peter 


The  Church  in  Transition  85 

baptizes  them.     Here,  then,  is  a  genuine  church  of  Gentiles  founded 
by  an  apostle ;  the  first  fruits  of  a  great  harvest. 

5.  The  next  step  is  even  more  momentous  in  its  results,  the 
Conversion  of  Saul  (Acts  9.  1-19).  It  seems  to  be  a  sudden  conver- 
sion, but  one  expression  (Acts  9.  5)  shows  that  Saul  had  been  strug- 
gling against  conviction.  His  enmity  had  not  been  so  greatly 
against  "Jesus  as  Christ"  as  against  "Christ  for  all  the  world"  i.  e., 
the  gospel  as  preached  by  Stephen;  and  when  converted  he  went 
fully  over  to  Stephen's  view,  and  became  Stephen's  successor,  with 
even  larger  vision.  Note  the  order  of  events  in  Saul's  early  ministry. 
1.)  Preaching  in  Damascus  (Acts  9.  20-22).  2.)  Retirement  to 
Arabia  (Gal.  1 .  17).  This  may  mean  almost  anywhere  to  the  east  or 
south  of  Palestine.  In  our  opinion,  he  went  thither  not  to 
meditate  nor  to  study  theology,  but  to  preach  in  the  cities  between 
Palestine  and  the  desert.  3 .)  Again  preaching  in  Damascus  (Gal.  1 . 
17).  His  escape  (Acts  9.  23-25).  4.)  Visit  to  Jerusalem  (Acts  9. 
26-28).  Whom  he  met  on  this  visit  (Gal.  1.  8,  19).  The  event 
which  led  to  his  departure  from  Jerusalem  (Acts  22.  17-21).  5.) 
His  return  to  his  birthplace  (Acts  9.  29,  30.  Gal.  1.  21).  Let  the 
student  draw  on  the  map  all  the  journeys  of  Saul,  beginning  with 
his  journey  from  Jerusalem  to  Damascus  before  his  conversion. 

VI.  The  Church  at  Antioch.  (Acts  11.  19-30).  Antioch  was  the 
third  city  of  the  Roman  empire;  capital  of  Syria,  of  which  Judea 
was  a  dependency.  Its  many  Jews  had  their  synagogues,  each  with 
its  "court  of  the  Gentiles,"  where  the  Gentile  worshipers  sat  dur- 
ing the  services.  In  the  story  of  this  church  note  1.)  Its  unnamed 
founders  (Acts  n.  19).  2.)  Its  membership  of  both  Jews  and 
Gentiles  (Acts  n.  20).  See  American  Revised  Version.  3.)  Its 
prominence  (Acts  11.  22-26).  4.)  Its  liberality  (Acts  n.  27-30). 
5.)  Some  of  its  workers  (Acts  13.  1).  6.)  Note  how  Saul  came  to 
be  associated  with  this  church  (Acts  11.   25,  26). 

VII.  The  First  Missionary  Journey  (Acts  13.  1-4).  Another 
step  in  advance  was  taken  when  two  missionaries  went  out  to  plant 
churches  of  both  Jews  and  Gentiles.  1.)  They  were  called  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  (ver.  2).  2.)  Approved  by  the  church  (Ver.  3).  3.) 
Their  method  ;  whenever  possible  beginning  with  the  synagogue, 
where  they  would  have  access  both  to  devout  Jews  and  devout  Gen- 
tiles (Acts  13.   5).     4.)  The  lands  visited.    Cyprus  (Acts  13.  4-6). 


86 


Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestament 


Pisidia  (Arts  [3,  14).  Lycaonia  (Acts  1  \.  6).  On  the  return  jour- 
ney, Pamphylia  (Acts  14.  24,25).  Lei  the  student  draw  the  maps 
showing  the  lands  and  places,  and  the  route  of  the  journey.  One 
province  in  the  southern  tier  was  left  unvisited,  Cilicia,  because  Paul 
had  already  preached  there  (Gal.  1.     21-23). 


VIII.  The  Council  at  Jerusalem  (Aets  15).  Of  course  such  a 
spread  of  the  gospel  among  the  Gentiles  would  be  very  unwelcome 
to  narrow  Jewish  believers.     Their  complaint  and  demand   (Aets 

15.    1,  2).      Who  attended  the  Council  at  Jerusalem  (Aets  15.    2-4). 


The  Church  in  Transition 


87 


Who  took  prominent  part  in  it  (Acts  15.  7,  13).  The  conclusion  of 
the  Council  (Acts  15.   27-29). 

The  great  question  was  now  settled.  Jews  and  Gentiles  were 
standing  at  last  on  equality  in  the  church,  and  the  great  transition 
from  a  Jewish  church  to  a  church  for  all  the  world  was  accomplished. 

Hints  to  the  Teacher  and  the  Student 

1.  Read  carefully  in  the  book  of  Acts  from  the  8th  to  the  15th  chapter, 
inclusive. 

2.  Draw  the  map  first  from  copy,  then  without  copy;  not  seeking  for 
accuracy,   but  aiming  rather   for   correct   relation   of   the   lands  to  each   other. 

3.  Study  each  section  of  the  lesson;  look  up  every  reference,  and  note  its 
relation  to  the  general  subject.  Master  the  eight  points  in  the  outline  thor- 
oughly. 

4.  Draw  on  the  map  (or,  better,  on  a  series  of  maps)  the  following  journeys: 
1.)  Philip's  journeys.  Acts  8.  2.)  Teter's  journeys.  Acts  8  and  10.  3.) 
Saul's  early  journeys.  4.)  The  journey  of  Saul  and  Barnabas.  5.)  The 
journeys  in  connection   with   the   council   at   Jerusalem,   going   and   returning. 

5.  Let  the  teacher  call  upon  the  scholars  to  tell  as  a  story  each  of  the  eight 
points  in  the  lesson,  not  from  the  text-book  but  from  the  book  of  Acts;  each 
story  by  a   student   in   turn. 


Blackboard  Outline 


* 


► 

Ch.  in  Trans.      1.)    Op.      2.)    Clo. 

* 

I.     Map.  Lands.  Cy.  Ju.  Syr.  Ph.  Cil.  Pau.  Pi.  Lye.  Places. 

Jer.  Jop.  Cecs.     Dam. Ant.     Tar.  An  (Pi)  Lys.  Der. 

II.     Prog,  of  Ev.      1.  Pre.  Ste.      1.)  En.     2.)  Ace.    3.)  Prom. 

4.)   Log.  ai. 

2.     Sau.  Per.  Res.    1.)  Pen.  Ch.  bro.  up.   2.)  Dis.  everyw. 

prea.     3.)  Chur.  spr.  up. 

3.     Gosp.  in  Sam*      Phil. 

4.     Pet.     Vis.     Pet.  and  Corn. 

5.     Conv.    Sau.    Sau.     ear.    Min.      1.)     Dam.      2.)    Ara. 

3.)   Dam.     4.)   Jeru.      5.)   Tar. 

6.     Ch.    at.     Ant.      1.)     Foun.      2.)    Mem.     3.)     Prom. 

4.)   Lib.      5.)   Work.      6.)   Sau.  asso. 

7.     Fir.     Miss.     Jour.       1.)   Cal.       2.)   App.      3.)   Meth. 

4.)    Lands.     C.  P.  L.  P. 

8.     Coun.  at  Jer. 

, _► 

't 

* 


88  Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestament 

Review  Questions 

With    what    events    did    thi  '    transition    begin    and    end?    How    long 

was  it?  What  was  the  state  of  the  church  when  it  opened?  What  was  the 
state  of  the  church  when  it  closed?  Name  an  island  and  seven  lands  connected 
with  this  period.  Name  ten  places  connected  with  the  period.  Slate  the  eight 
great  events  in  the  history  of  the  church  at  this  time.  What  preacher  intro- 
duced this  epoch?  How  do  we  know  that  he  preached  salvation  for  the 
Gentiles?  What  man's  persecution  at  this  time  proved  a  help  to  the 
church?  Tell  the  story  of  this  persecution.  What  three  results  followed  it? 
Who  formed  the  church  in  Samaria?  Who  were  the  Samaritans?  How  was 
the  church  recognized?  Tell  the  story  of  a  remarkable  vision  on  a  housetop. 
To  what  did  that  vision  lead?  Tell  the  story  of  a  persecutor's  conversion  to 
Christ.  Where  did  this  conversion  take  place?  What  were  the  events  in 
Saul's  life  that  followed  this  conversion?  What  important  church  arose  in 
Syria?  Who  were  its  founders?  Who  constituted  its  membership?  Who 
were  its  leaders?  What  facts  showed  its  prominence  and  influence?  How 
came  Saul  to  be  associated  with  this  church?  Who  went  out  as  missionaries? 
Who  went  with  them  as  helper?  What  became  of  this  young  man?  What 
was  their  method  of  work?  What  lands  did  they  visit?  In  what  cities  did 
they  found  churches?  What  led  to  tin-  council  at  Jerusalem?  Who  attended 
the  council?  Who  spoke  in  it?  What  were  its  conclusions?  How  did  this 
end  the  period  of  transition  in  the  church? 


FIFTEENTH  STUDY 
The  Church  Twenty  Years  After  the  Ascension 

We  have  now  studied  the  two  earliest  periods  in  the  history  of  the 
Christian  church  and  have  come  to  the  year  50  A.  D.,  twenty  years 
after  the  Ascension  of  Christ  and  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  on 
the  first  Pentecost.  Let  us  look  over  the  field  and  see  what  at  that 
time  was  the  state  of  the  church. 

I.  Its  Extent.  Let  the  student  draw  again  the  map  given 
with  the  last  lesson,  and  locate  upon  it  the  following  lands:  1. 
Judea  (Palestine).  2.  Syria.  3.  Phoenicia.  4.  Cyprus.  5. 
Cilicia.  6.  Pamphylia.  7.  Pisidia.  8.  Lycaonia.  In  all  these 
lands  churches  were  established  and  at  work. 

II.  Its  Membership.  The  members  of  the  church  consisted  of 
two  classes  of  people,  widely  apart  by  nature,  but  brought  together 
by  the  gospel: 

1.  There  were  churches  where  all  the  members  were  Jews,  as 
in  Judea.  These  were  all  faithful  to  the  regulations  of  the  Jewish 
ceremonial  law,  and  many  of  them  almost  bigoted  in  their  opinions 
concerning  it  (Acts  15.  1,  5). 

2.  There  were  other  churches,  as  in  Lycaonia,  where  all  or 
nearly  all  the  members  were  Gentiles  (Acts  14.  6-13).  In  these  the 
Jewish  rules  were  unrecognized,  almost  unknown. 

3.  Between  these  two  extremes  was  the  great  body  of  churches 
of  both  Jews  and  Gentiles.  The  two  classes  worshiped  together; 
Jews  remaining  Jews,  and  Gentiles  remaining  Gentiles ;  but  probably 
received  the  Lord's  Sttpper  apart,  as  it  was  as  yet  a  house-service, 
not  held  at  the  public  meetings. 

4.  While  in  most  churches  there  was  harmony,  on  both  sides 
there  were  some  radical  members;  but  especially  among  the  Jews. 
These  were  the  Judaizers;  men  who  sought  to  compel  all  the  disciples 
to  receive  circumcision,  obey  the  ceremonial  law  and  make  the 
Christian  church  subordinate  to  Jewish  ritualism.     These  were  the 


90  Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

enemies  of  Paul  to  the  end  of  his  ministry,  perverting  the  Gentile 

churches  and  opposing  the  apostle's  work. 

III.  Its  Leaders.  Three  names  stand,  out  prominently  at  this 
time:  r.  Paul,  as  the  leader  of  the  church  in  its  world-wide  plans, 
the  apostle  to  the  Gentiles  (Gal.  2.  7).  2.  Jamest  as  leader  of  the 
Jewish  but  not  Judaizing  elements  (Acts  13.  13,  19).  This  was  not 
James  the  apostle,  for  he  had  been  put  to  death  some  time  before 
this  (Acts  12.  2);  but  James  "the  brother  of  the  Lord"  (Gal.  1. 
19).  He  was  the  head  of  the  church  in  Jerusalem  and  author  of  the 
Epistle  of  James.  3.  Peter,  who  stood  in  friendly  relation  to  both 
parties  in  the  church,  although  his  conduct  was  not  always  perfectly 
consistent  with  regard  to  Jewish  regulations  (Acts  11.  2,  3;  Gal.  2. 
11-14).  Between  these  three  leaders  there  was  a  clear  understand- 
ing and  no  strong  division  of  spirit,  although  they  mighl  not  agree 
in  all  points.  4.  Other  leaders  in  this  period  were  Philip  (Acts  8. 
40;  21.  8).  Barnabas,  Silas  of  Jerusalem  and  Antioch  (Acts  15.22, 
32,  40),  and  Titus  (Gal.  2.    1-4). 

IV.  Its  Government.  In  our  time  the  church  is  often  a  highly 
wrought  organization,  with  articles  of  faith,  orders,  and  officials  of 
various  grades.  We  are  apt  to  assume  such  a  condition  in  the  early 
church.  But  at  the  time  of  which  we  speak  there  was  very  little 
organization  or  machinery;  and  there  was  little  need  of  any,  for  a 
special  reason:  Every  member  was  under  the  direct  guidance  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  living  in  fellowship  with  God,  without  mediation  of 
priest  or  church.     Yet  we  find  certain  officers  named  in  the  church: 

1.  Apostles,  originally  "the  twelve,"  but  changes  arose  and 
others  were  called  by  the  title,  for  example,  Paul  and  Barnabas 
(Acts  14.  14);  James  (Gal.  1.  19).  The  work  of  the  apostles  was 
not  primarily  government,  but  inspired  testimony  to  Jesus  as  the 
Christ  (Acts  1.  22;  6.  4);  nowhere  in  Acts  are  the  apostles  repre- 
sented as  ruling  the  church  (Acts  15.  0>,  22). 

2.  Elders  (Acts  11.  30;  14.  23;  15.  4).  These  were  analogous 
to  the  same  officers  in  the  synagogue,  from  which  the  plan  of  the 
local  churches  was  taken. 

3.  Prophets  (Acts  it.  27,  28;  Acts  13.  1 ;  Acts  15.  32).  Men 
who  spoke  out  of  direct  fellowship  with  the  Lord,  and  under 
inspiration  of  the  Spirit;  sometimes,  though  not  always,  giving 
predictions  of  future  events. 


The  Church  Twenty  Years  After  the  Ascension  91 

4.  Teachers  (Acts  13.  1).  Men  who  gave  instruction  in  the  Chris- 
tian character;  probably  largely  from  recollection  or  knowledge  of 
the  teaching  of  Christ.  The  difference  between  "prophesy"  and 
"  teaching"  was  that  the  former  was  the  more  spontaneous  and  the 
latter  the  more  educative  in  the  principles  of  the  gospel. 

V.  Its  Doctrinal  Views.  These  remained  substantially  as  in  the 
first  period.  There  was  little  tendency  toward  intellectual  ques- 
tionings while  the  church  remained  under  Jewish  influence.  The 
discussion  was  rather  regarding  Jewish  ceremonial  regulations. 
The  Messiahship,  Resurrection  and  Return  of  Jesus  were  still  the 
prominent  teaching  of  the  period. 

VI.  Its  Moral  Standards.  The  church  is  now  face  to  face  with 
the  heathen  world  and  all  its  abominable  vices.  Heathen  moralists 
continually  made  excuse  for  the  immorality  which  was  so  generally 
practiced.  But  Christianity  made  no  compromise;  set  forth  the 
high  standard  of  the  gospel,  with  the  character  of  Christ  as  its  ideal. 
This  high  standard  unswervingly  maintained  was  one  secret  of  the 
church's  power  and  growth.  Notice,  a  little  later  than  this  period, 
in  St.  Paul's  writings,  the  .strong  ethical  spirit. 

VII.  Its  Meeting-places.  As  yet  "churches"  or  buildings  for 
worship  were  not  erected.  The  disciples  met  with  the  Jews  in  the 
synagogue  or  established  synagogues  of  their  own  (James  2.  2). 
Often  they  met,  even  later  than  this  period,  in  the  upper  rooms  of 
private  houses  (Acts  20.   8.      Rom.  16.   3-5.     Philem.  2). 

VIII.  Its  Literature.  This  was  still  the  Old  Testament  only ;  no 
book  of  the  New  Testament  having  been  written  as  early  as  50  A.  D. 
These  writings  were  familiar  to  all  the  Jewisli  members,  and  almost 
equally  familiar  to  the  Gentiles  who  attended  the  synagogue. 
Was  there  an  ' '  oral  gospel ' '  in  existence  ?  Probably  not  in  any  set, 
authorized  form ;  but  repeated  as  the  narration  of  teachings  and 
works  of  Jesus.  The  tendency  would  naturally  be  for  these  teach- 
ings to  settle  into  a  few  accepted  forms  or  "  gospels." 

IX.  Wherein  did  the  Unity  of  the  Church  consist?  Not  in  or- 
ganization, nor  government,  nor  doctrinal  statement ;  but  in  a  com- 
mon spiritual  life.  They  were  of  one  heart  and  one  mind,  loved 
each  other,  contributed  to  each  other's  needs  (Acts  11.  29.  Gal. 
2.  10),  visited  each  other's  churches  (Acts  11.  22,  27,30;  13,  25; 
15.   27,32).     This  was,  and  is,  true  chtirch  unity. 


92  Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestament 

Blackboard  Outline 
* — * 


Ch.  20  Ye.  af  Asc. 

I.     Ext.     Ja.  Sy.  Ph.  (v.  Cil.  Pam.  Pi.  Lye. 
II.     Mem.    i.Jc.     2.  Gen.    3 .  Both  J .  and  G.    4.  "Judai. " 

III.  Lead.      1.  Pau.     2.  Jam.     3.   Pet.     4.   Phi.     5.   Bar. 

6.  Sil.     7.   Tit. 

IV.  Gov.     (Dir.   Quid.    H.  S).     1.  Aps.     2.   El.     3.   Pro. 

4.   Tea. 
V.     Doc.  Vie.     Mes.  Res.  Ret.  Jes. 
VI.     Mor.  Stan.     "Nocomp." 
VII.      Meet.  Pla.     vSyn.      "Up.roo." 
VIII.     Lit.     O.  T.     "Or.  gosp." 
IX.     Uni.     Com.  spir.  lif . 


Review  Questions 

What  stage  in  the  church's  progress  do  we  now  consider?  In  what  lands 
was  the  church  established  at  this  time?  What  two  classes  of  people  consti- 
tuted its  membership?  How  did  these  two  classes  worship  together?  What 
service  was  observed  in  the  homes  of  members?  Who  were  the  Judaizers? 
What  harm  did  they  do?  Name  the  three  great  leaders  at  this  time.  Who  was 
James?  Give  an  instance  when  Peter  was  not  entirely  consistent  in  his  con- 
duct. Name  four  other  leaders  and  a  fact  about  each.  Why  did  the  church 
of  that  time  need  very  little  government?  Name  four  kinds  of  officers  in  the 
church.  What  was  the  special  work  of  the  apostles?  Where  did  the  elders 
originate?  With  what  churches  are  elders  named  in  this  period?  What  were 
the  prophets  in  the  church?  Name  some  who  are  called  prophets  in  this  period. 
What  was  the  work  of  teachers  in  the  church  ?  Were  doctrinal  studies  or 
discussions  prominent  at  this  time?  What  wen-  the  three  prominent  doctrines 
of  the  church?  Why  do  the  moral  standards  of  the  church  come  into 
prominence  at  this  time?  What  were  those  standards?  Where  did  the 
Christians  hold  their  meetings?  What  was  the  literature  of  the  church  at  this 
time?  What  do  you  understand  by  "the  oral  gospel?"  Was  such  a  gospel 
in  existence?  Wherein  did  the  unity  of  the  church  consist?  How  was  this 
unity  shown? 


SIXTEENTH  STUDY 
The  Preparation  of  Paul  for  his  Work 

Part  One 

Before  we  enter  upon  the  study  of  "The  church  among  the  Gen- 
tiles," our  next  period,  there  is  a  preliminary  topic  to  be  consid- 
ered. The  only  record  which  we  possess  of  the  period  before  us,  the 
Book  of  Acts,  not  only  represents  Paul  as  the  leading  worker  for 
the  gospel,  but  it  even  omits  all  reports  of  the  work  of  other  apostles 
and  evangelists.  There  must  have  been  other  workers ;  Peter,  Barna  ■ 
bas,  Philip,  and  other  workers  were  still  living,  and  must  have  been 
active  in  founding  churches;  but  their  work  is  not  mentioned.  We 
find  mention  of  churches  which  Paul  had  not  founded  (Acts  21.  3 ,  7 . 
Acts  28.  13,  14,  15).  Paul  stands  before  us  as  the  leading  and  the 
typical  worker  in  the  gospel.  We  will  therefore  take  for  our  theme, 
The  Preparation  and  Methods  of  Paul. 

At  A.  D.  50  Paul  is  now  at  Antioch,  about  fifty  years  old,  having 
been  born  probably  about  four  years  after  Jesus  Christ.  His  first 
missionary  journey  has  taken  place,  and  he  is  now  about  to  enter 
upon  his  second  missionary  journey.  Let  us  notice  some  of  his 
advantages  for  leadership  in  the  gospel. 

I.  He  was  a  Jew.  (See  Phil.  3.  5;  Rom.  ir.  1).  The  leader  in 
this  movement  must  be  a  Jew.  1 .  Because  as  a  Jew  he  would  have 
a  training  in  Bible  knowledge,  and  in  the  faith  of  a  coming  Messiah 
such  as  no  Gentile  could  possess.  2.  Moreover  the  work  in  nearly 
all  places  must  begin  in  the  svnagogue.  (See  Acts  17.  152.  10; 
18.  1,4;  19.  1,  8).  And  only  a  Jew  could  take  part  in  its  serv- 
ices. 

II.  He  was  a  Trained  and  Recognized  Rabbi:  an  accredited 
teacher  of  the  law;  ''a  college  man"  with  the  prestige  of  scholar- 
ship won  in  the  school  of  Gamaliel,  the  greatest  Jewish  master  of 
that  age  (Acts  5.  34.  Acts  22.  3).  Such  a  teacher  would  be  wel- 
come in  any  synagogue.  In  this  respect  contrast  Paul  with  Peter 
and  the  other  apostles  (Acts  4.    13). 

93 


94  Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestament 

III.  He  was  a  Hellenist,  or  " Grecian  Jew ; "  i.  e.,  a  Jew  of  the 
Dispersion;  by  birth  and  environmenl  broader  than  the  Jews  of 
Jerusalem,  who  rarely  came  in  contact  with  Gentiles.  He  was  a 
traveler  acquainted  with  the  world;  spoke  Greek  as  fluently  as 
Hebrew,  an  absolute  necessity  for  preaching  to  Gentiles  (Acts  21. 
37,  40).  He  spoke  to  the  Greek  philosophers  in  their  own  tongue 
and  after  their  own  manner.  Contrast  Acts  17.  22  with  Acts  22.  1. 
Tradition  says  that  Peter,  when  at  Rome,  used  an  interpreter  in 
preaching  to  the  church.  Paul's  ability  to  speak  at  least  two 
languages  gave  him  a  great  advantage. 

IV.  Another  advantage  was  that  he  was  by  birth  a  Roman  Citi- 
zen (Acts  16.  37.  Acts  22.  25-28).  This  privilege,  at  that  time 
rare  among  those  outside  of  Italy,  gave  the  apostle  safety,  immunity 
from  imprisonment  by  the  local  rulers,  and  the  right  to  atrial  before 
a  Roman  judge,  with  appeal  to  the  emperor.  James  was  put  to 
death,  and  Peter  thrown  into  prison  by  King  Herod  (Acts  12.  2-4); 
but  Paul  was  by  his  citizenship  undoubtedly  saved  more  than  once 
from  torture  and  from  death. 

V.  He  was  a  divinely-called  Apostle.  When  he  spoke  it  was 
with  all  the  fervor  and  authority  of  one  who  had  seen  the  Lord  and 
had  received  a  special  command  from  the  lips  of  the  ascended  Christ 
to  bear  testimony  to  his  gospel.  His  call  came  with  his  conver- 
sion (Acts  26.  12-19).  He  claimed  the  authority  of  an  apostle 
(Gal.  1.  1;  1  Cor.  9.  1).  Notice  that  in  his  letters  Paul  always 
places  'apostles"  before  "prophets"  (Eph.  2.  20;  3.  5;  4.  n),  as 
holding  the  higher  office  in  the  church. 

VI.  He  possessed  rare  Natural  Endowments  for  his  work. 

1.  He  was  a  man  of  sympathy,  warm-hearted  and  tender;  mak- 
ing strong  friendships,  drawing  nun  after  him.  Note  how  in  every 
place  he  found  friends  (Acts  19.   31;    20.     4;     27.     3,     43). 

2.  He  was  a  preacher  of  power.  He  was  a  master  of  the  art  of 
public  speaking;  and  people  would  always  listen  to  him  with  the 
deepest  interest  (Acts  17.  22-31.    Acts  22.    1-2.      Acts  26.    1-26). 

3.  He  was  a  theologian.  He  saw  the  great  truths  of  the  gospel 
in  clearer  light  than  any  of  his  co-workers.  Under  the  guidance 
of  the  Spirit  be  formulated  a  system  of  doctrine  (Gal.  1.  11,12), 
which  he  sometimes  called  "my  gospel"  (Rom.  2.  16;  2  Tim.  2.8). 


The  Preparation  of  Paul  for  His  Work  95 

This  "  gospel  according  to  Paul, "  presented  in    his   great    epistles, 

came  to  be  the  theology  of  the  church,  and  so  remains. 

4.  He  possessed  rare  tact  in  dealing  with  men;  knew  how  to 
adapt  his  methods  to  people  of  varied  races  and  views.  His  man- 
ner of  preaching  at  Athens  was  very  different  from  that  in  Jerusa- 
lem.    Note  1  Cor.  9.  19-22. 

5.  He  was  a  natural  leader  of  men ;  ready  to  take  responsibilities, 
quick  to  decide,  yet  thoughtful  of  others.  He  possessed  the  ruling 
spirit,  yet  was  no  imperious,  self-willed  man.  People  were  as  ready 
to  follow  as  he  was  to  lead. 

6.  He  was  a  tireless  worker;  indomitable  and  undiscouraged, 
caring  little  for  hardship  (2  Cor.  n.  23-2S),  although  he  seems  to 
have  been  delicate  in  health.  See  allusions  2  Cor.  12.  7-10.  Gal. 
4.  13.  Notice  the  field  of  his  labors,  in  the  middle  of  his  ministry 
(Rom.  15.  19).  Notice  too  his  plans  for  regions  more  distant  (Rom. 
15.   24). 

Blackboard  Outline 
Part  One 
►& 

Pau.  Prep.  &  Meth. 
I.      Je.      1.   Train,  fai.      2.    Part  in  Syn. 
II.      Trai.  Rec.  Rab.      Rch.  of  dam. 

III.  Hell.     "Ore.  J."     Trav.  Ore.  Lang. 

IV.  Rom.  cit. 
V.      Apos. 

VI.      Nat.  Endow.      1.   Sym.      2.     Pre.      3.    Theol.     4.    Tac. 
5.   Nat.   lead.      6.   Tir.  Work. 
*- * 

Review  Questions 
Part  One 

What  prominence  does  the  book  of  Acts  give  to  Paul  in  the  period  of  the 
church  among  the  Gentiles?  How  do  we  know  that  there  were  other  workers 
at  that  time?  Name  some  of  these  other  workers.  What  churches  are  named 
which  could  not  have  been  founded  by  Paul?  What  was  Paul's  age  at  the 
opening  of  this  period?  What  were  some  advantages  which  Paul  possessed 
for  his  work?  What  were  the  advantages  of  his  birth  and  training  as  a  Jew? 
What  education  did  he  receive,  and  wherein  was  it  a  help  to  him?  To  what 
great  branch  of  the  Jews  did  Paul  belong?  How  was  this  fact  an  advantage 
in    his   work?      Of   what   nation    was   he   a   citizen?      Name    instances    when    this 


96  Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestament 

fact   was  of  avail   to   Paul.      With    what  authority  could   Paul  speak?      Whence 

came   this  authority?      What    were   some  of    Paul's   natural   endowments   for   his 

ministry?      What    does    Paul    mean    by  the    expression,    "my    gospel"?      What 
showed  his  industry  as  a  worker? 

Part  Two 

VII.  We  must  also  study  Paul's  Methods  of  Work.  These  were 
varied  greatly  according  to  circumstances,  but  in  them  we  may  note 
certain  principles. 

1.  He  took  fellow  workers  with  him.  Notice  his  companions  on 
his  first  journey.  Acts  13.  2-5.  On  his  second  journey.  Acts  15. 
40;  16.  1-3.  What  other  companion  is  indicated  in  the  word  "we" 
in  Acts  16.  10?  On  his  third  journey.  Acts  19.  22,  29.  Other  com- 
panions on  this  journey.  Acts  20.  4,  5.  This  method  gave  1.) 
Mutual  encouragement.  Paul  was  social,  loved  companionship;  was 
sometimes  melancholy  when  alone  (Acts  1  7.  15,  16,2  Cor.  2.  12,  13; 
2  Cor.  7.  5,  6).  2.)  Power  in  co-operation;  two  can  do  much  more 
than  twice  as  much  as  one.  3.)  There  was  also  training  for  younger 
workers,  whom  Pattl  always  took  with  him;  e.g.,  Mark,  Timothy, 
and  perhaps  Titus. 

2.  He  chose  the  cities;  and  of  these  the  largest  and  most  important 
centers  of  population.  Antioch,  Thessalonica,  Corinth,  Ephesus. 
Rome.  Paul  was,  in  training  and  tastes,  a  man  of  the  city,  not 
of  the  country.  He  took  great  interest  in  men,  but  apparently  none 
in  nature.  Contrast  Paul  in  this  respect  with  Christ,  most  of  wh<  »se 
illustrations  were  drawn  from  nature.  One  result  of  Paul's  choice 
of  the  cities  was  the  wide  and  rapid  diffusion  of  the  gospel.  The 
cities  became  Christian  long  before  the  country-places.  The  word 
"pagan"  literally  means  "countryman,"  but  it  came  to  mean  a 
worshiper  of  idols.  Sec  the  effect  of  Paul's  two  years  in  Ephesus 
(Acts  19.  10).  "The  seven  churches  of  Asia  "  (Rev.  1.  11)  were  the 
outgrowth  of  Paul's  work  in    Ephesus. 

3.  He  supported  himself  by  his  trade.  His  occupation.  Acts  18.  3. 
References  to  his  self-support  in  different  places.  1  Cor.  4.  12; 
1  Thess.  2.9;  Acts  20.  34;  Paul's  was  a  "self-supporting  mission," 
because  there  was  no  society  to  support  him  and  he  woidd  not  lay 
the  burden  upon  those  just  converted.      But  although  he  asked  no 

contributions,  he  accepted  them  when  tendered.  Phil.  4.  15;  16.  18. 


The  Preparation  of  Paul  for  His  Work  97 

4.  He  began  in  the  synagogue .  In  every  large  city  there  were 
Jewish  synagogues;  and  in  these  Paul  could  speak  as  an  accepted 
Rabbi.  Note  how  constantly  he  made  use  of  the  synagogue.  Acts 
13.  5,  4.  Acts  14.  1.  Acts  17.  1.  Acts  18.  4,  19.  This  method 
gave  him  access  to  the  worshiping  Scripture-loving  Jews,  to  whom 
he  felt  called  to  give  the  gospel  first  (Rom.  1.  16).  But  it  also  gave 
him  access  to  the  thoughtful,  serious  Gentiles  who  were  seeking 
after  God ;  and  from  this  class  came  many  of  the  early  Christians. 
Notice  that  in  Paul's  opening  address  in  Antioch  in  Pisidia  he 
addressed  both  these  classes  (Acts  13.  16).  The  synagogue  among 
the  Jews  of  the  dispersion  was  a  great  aid  to  the  gospel. 

5.  He  formed  acquaintance  with  rulers  and  influential  men  in 
many  places;  in  so  many  that  it  cannot  have  been  accidental,  but 
must  have  been  a  part  of  his  plan.  Examine  the  following  refer- 
ences, and  note  names  and  places:  Acts  13.  7.  Acts  17.  34.  Rom. 
16.  23.  Acts  19.  31.  Acts  28.  7.  These  friendships  were  often 
of  great  service  to  Paul,  especially  when  opposed  by  his  own  people. 

6.  He  used  the  pen  as  well  as  the  voice.  He  wrote  many  letters, 
not  so  much  to  spread  the  gospel  as  to  strengthen  and  instruct  the 
churches  which  he  had  planted.  A  number  of  his  letters  to  churches 
and  to  individuals  have  been  preserved ;  but  it  is  evident  that  some 
have  been  lost  (1  Cor.  5.  9.     Col.  4.    16). 

7 .  He  strengthened  his  work  by  frequently  revisiting  his  churches. 
Notice  a  re-visitation  on  his  first  journey  (Acts  14.  21).  The  same 
churches  visited  again  on  his  second  journey  (Acts  16.  1-4).  Again 
on  his  third  journey  he  passed  through  the  same  places  (Acts  19.  1) . 
A  re-visitation  of  the  European  churches  (Acts  20.    1,2). 

VIII.  Note,  lastly,  Paul's  Enemies;  those  who  throughout  his 
journeys  opposed,  fought,  persecuted  him.  Almost  everywhere  his 
work  stirred  up  violent  antagonisms.  This  came  in  different  places 
from  three  sources  : 

1.  The  Jews,  whose  opposition  came  not  so  much  from  his 
preaching  Jesus  as  the  Messiah  as  from  his  willingness  to  receive 
Gentiles  into  the  church.  He  was  regarded  as  breaking  down  the 
distinctions  between  Jew  and  Gentile.  Note  instances  of  perse- 
cution from  this  source  (Acts  13.  45,  50.  Acts  14.  1.2.  Acts  14.  19. 
Acts  17.  5.     Acts  21.   27). 

2.  The    Judaizing    Christians;    professed    disciples    who    were 


g8  Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestamext 

opposed  to  (untile  membership  in  the  church  (Acts  15.  1,  5.  Acts 
21.  20.  21.  Phil.  1.  14-17'.  As  the  years  passed  the  proportion 
1  if  I  ews  to  Gentiles  in  the  church  became  less  and  less,  and  this  party 
diminished  in  power. 

5.  The  Gentiles.  In  only  two  places  do  we  find  persecution 
d  up  against  Paul  by  Gentiles  without  suggestion  by  Jews. 
Note  the  places  and  circumstances  in  Acts  16.  16-24.  Acts  19 
23-30.  In  each  instance  private  interests  caused  the  trouble.  As 
vet  there  was  no  strife  between  Christianity  and  the  imperial  gov- 
ernment. But  Paul  saw  the  trials  impending,  and  not  far  distant, 
and  he  forewarned  his  churches  of  sharper  persecution  soon  to  come 
(Thess.  2.  3-10.     Acts  20.  29.     Phil.  1.   28-30). 

Blackboard  Outline 

Part   Two 

* 

VII.       Pau.     Meth.    Wor.         1.     Fell.     work.        2.     (licit. 
3.     Sup.    by    tra.      4.     Beg.    syn.      5.     Acq.    w.    nil. 
6.    Us.  pen.      7.    Rev.  chu. 
VIII.     Pau.  Ene.      1.  Je.      2.   Jud.  Chr.      3.   Gen. 
4< 


Review  Questions.     Part  Two 

Name  seven  facts  about  Paul's  methods  of  work  in  the  gospel.  Who  were 
his  companions  on  his  first,  second,  and  third  journeys?  What  were  the 
benefits  of  having  fellow  -workers  ?  Name  some  cities  where  1'aul  labored 
longest.  How  is  Paul  contrasted  in  this  respect  with  Jesus  Christ?  What  was 
the  effect  of  beginning  the  work  in  the  great  cities?  How  was  Paul  supported 
while  preaching?  Why  did  he  follow  that  plan?  In  what  place  did  Paul 
begin  his  work  wherever  possible?  Whom  did  he  reach  in  that  method?  Name 
some  rulers  and  influential  people  in  different  places  who  were  friends  of 
Paul.  What  use  of  the  pen  did  Paul  make  in  his  ministry?  Show  how  he 
1  equently  revisited  his  churches.  What  three  classes  of  people  were  enemies 
of  Paul  in  his  work?  Name  instances  when  the  .lews  opposed  him.  What 
was  their  reason  for  their  opposition?  What  opposition  did  he  meet  from 
fellow-Christians?  At  what  places  was  he  persecuted  by  Gentiles?  What 
was   the   attitude   of   the    Roman   government   at   that   time   toward   Christianity? 


SEVENTEENTH  STUDY 
The  Church  among  the  Gentiles 

From  the  Council  at  Jerusalem,  A.  D.  50,  To  the  Death  of  St.  Paul, 

A.  D.  68. 

Part  One 

The  history  of  this  period  of  eighteen  years,  as  contained  in  the 
book  of  Acts,  is  limited  to  the  labors  of  St.  Paul,  who  was  pre-emi- 
nently the  apostle  to  the  Gentiles  (2  Tim.  1.    11). 

I.  Let  us  draw  the  map  of  the  lands  embraced  in  the  later  jour- 
neys of  the  apostle  Paul. 

1.  The  Lands:  1.)  Asia  Minor.  2.)  Thrace.  3.)  Macedonia. 
4.)  Greece  or  Achaia.  5.)  Italy.  6.)  Africa,  not  visited  by  Paul. 
7.)    Palestine  or  Judea.      8.)   Syria. 

2.  The  Localities.  1.)  Jerusalem.  2.)  Antioch.  3.)  Ephesus. 
4.)  Troas.  5.)  Philippi.  6.)  Thessalonica.  7.)  Berea.  8.) 
Athens.      9.)   Corinth.      10.)    Rome. 

II.  Paul's  Second  Missionary  Journey.  The  gospel  in  Europe 
(A.  D.  51-53).     Notice: 

1.  His  com  panto- is:  the  quarrel  with  Barnabas  and  separation 
(Acts  15.  36-39).  Barnabas  at  this  point  drops  out  of  the  record. 
Silas,  Timothy,  and  later  Luke,  accompany  Paul  (Acts  15.  40. ;  16.  1 ; 
16.  10).  Luke's  profession,  perhaps  therein  helping  the  apostle 
(Col.  4.    14). 

2.  Asia  Minor  revisited.  Note  and  locate  the  provinces 
through  which  they  passed,  starting  from  Antioch :  1 .)  Cilicia 
(Acts  15.  41).  2.)  Lycaonia  (Acts  16.  1,  3).  Probably  Pisidia 
(Acts  16.  4).  4).  Galatia.  5.)  Phrygia  (Acts  16.  6).  Through 
Mysia  to  Troas  (Acts  16.    8).      Locate  these  provinces  on  the  map. 

3.  The  Gospel  in  Europe.  Note  the  events  which  led  to  the  voy- 
age across  the  ^gean  Sea  (Acts  16.  9).  Trace  the  route  on  the 
map — from  what  city?  to  what  city?  The  three  cities  in  Macedonia 
(Acts  16.12;  17.  1;  17.  10).  The  two  cities  in  Greece  (Acts  17. 
I5;i8.   1).     Note  the  long  stay  in  Corinth  (Acts  1 8.  1 1) ;  the  largest 

99 


ioo         Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

city  in    Greece  and  the  commercial  metropolis,  at    that   time  far 
more  important  than  Athens. 

Review  and  .locate  the  five  cities  in  Europe  thus  far  visited,  P.  T. 
B.  A.  C,  and  recall  the  peculiar  events  at  each  place. 

4.  The  two  Epistles  to  the  Thessalonians  were  written  while  Paul 
was  at  Corinth,  perhaps  52  and  53  A.  D.  These  are  the  earliest 
extant  writings  of  Paul,  and  the  earliest  books  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment. Two  subjects  are  presented  in  both  letters :  1 .)  General  pre- 
cepts concerning  Christian  character.  2.)  The  second  coming  of 
Christ. 

5.  A  visit  to  Ephesus,  the  chief  city  of  Asia  Minor  (Acts  18.  18, 
19).  Notice  what  would  be  the  direct  route  from  Corinth.  Paul's 
stay  at  this  time  was  short,  but  with  promise  of  a  speedy  return. 

6.  Return  to  Antioch.  The  route,  from  Ephesus  to  Caesarea, 
thence  to  the  mother  church  at  Jerusalem;  thence  250  miles  either 
by  land  via  Damascus,  or  by  water  via  Ca?sarea  (Acts  18.  22).  The 
great  result  of  the  second  missionary  journey  was  the  planting  of 
the  gospel  in  Europe.  The  churches  founded  were  composed  of 
both  Jews  and  Gentiles,  with  the  latter  largely  in  the  majority. 

Blackboard  Outline 

Part  One 


f— 

H 

I. 

Map.     1.  Lands.      1.)   A.M.      2.)  Th.    3.)  Mac.     4.)  Gre. 

5.)    It.      6.)   Af.      7.)    Pal.      8.)   Syr. 

2.     Pla.      i.)Jer.      2.)  Ant.      3.)  Eph.      4.)  Tro.     5.)  Phi. 

6.)   Thes.      7.)   Ber.     8.)   Ath.     9.)   Cor. 

II. 

Pau.  Sec.  Miss.  Jour.      1.     Comp.  S   T.  L. 

2.     As.Min.Rev.      1.)    Cil.     2.)   Ly.     3.)    Pi.     4.)  Gal. 

5.)    Ph.     6.)   My.  T. 

3.     Gos.  in  Eur.     Tro.      Phil.     Thess.    Ber.     Ath.     Cor. 

4.     lip.  Thess.      1.)   Chr.  Char.      2.)   Chr.  sec.  com. 

5.      Vis.  Eph. 

6.     Ret.   Ant.     Result-Gosp.  Eur. 

* 

-* 

Review  Questions.     Part  One 

What  lands  in  Asia  arc  named  with  this  lesson  on  the  map?  What  lands  in 
Europe?  What  localities  in  Palestine  and  Syria?  Localities  in  Asia  Minor? 
Localities  in    Europe?      Who  were    Paul's  companions  on   his   second   missionary 


The  Church  Among  the  Gentiles  ioi 

journey?  What  places  of  his  earlier  journey  were  revisited  at  this  time? 
What  new  places  did  he  visit  in  Asia  Minor?  What  event  called  Paul  to  go  to 
Europe?  In  what  city  in  Europe  did  Paul  first  preach  the  gospel?  How  was 
his  work  in  that  city  interrupted?  What  other  places  in  Macedonia  did  he 
visit?  In  which  of  these  places  did  he  find  the  people  "more  noble"?  What 
cities  in  Greece  did  he  visit?  In  which  city  did  he  stay  for  a  long  time,  and 
for  what  reason?  What  letters  were  written  during  this  journey?  From  what 
place  was  each  written?  What  was  the  subject  or  purpose  of  each  epistle? 
What  large  city  in  Asia  Minor  was  the  last  one  visited  on  this  journey?  At 
what  places  did  Paul  stop  on  his  return  journey?  Where  did  his  journey 
end?     What  was  the  great  result  of  this  journey? 

Part  Two 

II.  Paul's  Third  Missionary  Journey  (A.  D.  54-58).  His 
companions  are  named  in  Acts  19.  22.  The  latter  seems  to  have 
been  a  man  of  importance  from  Corinth  (Rom.  16.  23).  We  trace 
the  journey,  starting,  as  both  the  former  journeys,  from  Antioch: 

1.  From  Antioch  to  Ephesus  (Acts  18.  23).  He  went  through 
Galatia  and  Phrygia,  visiting  churches  already  founded.  Some 
think  that  this  indicates  a  fourth  visit  to  Lycaonia  and  Pisidia,  as 
those  lands  were  loosely  regarded  as  belonging  to  Galatia ;  but  this 
is  not  certain.. 

2.  Three  years  in  Ephesus.  (Acts  19.  1-20.)  In  this  metropolis 
of  Asia  Minor  Paul  made  a  stay  longer  than  in  any  other  place  dur- 
ing his  ministry.  As  results,  churches  arose  in  all  that  region: 
Colossae  (Col.  2.  2;  2.  1),  Hierapolis  (Col.  4.  13),  and  "the  seven 
churches  of  Asia "  (Rev.  1.   n). 

3.  Macedonia  and  Greece  revisited.  We  can  tell  what  places  he 
would  visit  in  this  journey  through  former  fields,  although  they  are 
not  named — the  four  or  five  cities  wherein  he  had  already  planted 
churches:  Philippi,  Thessalonica,  Berea  (Athens?)  Corinth.  One 
of  his  errands  on  this  journey,  not  mentioned  in  Acts,  is  freqtiently 
referred  to  in  the  epistles  of  this  period,  his  collection  for  the  poor 
Christians  in  Judea.  See  Rom.  15.  26,  27.  1  Cor.  16.  1-3.  2  Cor. 
9.  1-4.  Probably  the  care  of  these  funds  was  one  reason  for  the 
large  number  of  disciples  accompanying  Paul  on  his  return  journey 
(Acts  20.   4). 

4.  Epistles  of  this  Period.     These  were  the  following : 

1.)  First  Corinthians,  written  from  Ephesus,  perhaps  about 
57  A.  D.  Its  occasion  (1  Cor.  1.  11,  12).  Its  purpose,  to 
set  forth  a  true  church-life." 


102  Outline  Studies  in  the  NewTestament 

2.)  Second  Corinthians  (57  A.  D.),  probably  written  from 
Macedonia.  (2  Cor.  7.  5;  8.  1) ;  its  purpose,  mainly  a  defense 
of  Paul  s  apostolic  authority. 

3.)  Galatians,  also  probably  from  Macedonia  (57  A.  D).  Its 
occasion,  the  influence  of  Judaizing  teachers  on  Paul's 
churches  in  Galatia  (Gal.  1.  6,  7).  "Galatia"may  refer  to  the 
regions  in  Lycaonia  and  Pisidia  (according  to  Ramsay) ;  but 
most  expositors  refer  it  to  Galatia  Proper,  north  of  those 
provinces.  The  theme  of  this  book  is  "Salvation by  faith 
only. " 

4.)  Romans  was  written  from  Corinth  perhaps  in  58  A.  D. 
See  Rom.  16.  1,  a  reference  to  the  seaport  of  Corinth.  Its 
subject  is  "  Justification  by  Faith.  "  Notice  how  important 
were  the  writings  of  this  period. 

5.  The  return  journey  (Acts  20.  6-21.  17).  Note  the  route  and 
places,  which  should  be  traced  on  the  map.  1.)  Philippi  (Acts  20. 
6).  2.)  Troas  (Acts  20.  6-13).  What  took  place  at  Troas?  3.) 
Voyage  to  Miletus  (Acts  20.  14,  15).  4.)  At  Miletus,  a  touching 
address  (Acts  20.  17-38).  5.)  Voyage  to  Tyre  (Acts  21.  1-6).  6.) 
Ptolemais  (Acts  21.  7).  7.)  C;csarea  (Acts  21.  8-15.)  A  remark- 
able meeting.  8.)  Jerusalem  (Acts  21.  17).  Paul's  errand  to 
Jerusalem  was  to  present  the  contribution  of  the  Gentile  churches; 
seeking  to  reconcile  them  with  the  mother  church  in  Jerusalem, 
which  was  exceedingly  bigoted  in  its  zeal  for  the  law  (Acts  21.  20, 
21). 

6.  Paul's  arrest  and  imprisonment  (Acts  21.  27-34).  Our  pur- 
pose is  not  to  narrate  the  personal  life  of  St.  Paul  but  to  show  the 
development  of  the  Christian  church,  therefore  we  do  not  enter 
into  the  details  of  his  experience.  He  was  arrested  in  Jerusalem,  and 
placed  in  the  castle  of  Antonia  for  his  protection  (Acts  21.  24) ; 
subsequently  taken  to  Caesarea  (Acts  23.  25-35).  Here  he 
remained  in  prison  two  years  (Acts  24.  27).  During  this  time  Paul 
was  placed  on  trial  at  least  four  times:  1.)  Before  the  Jewish 
council  of  the  Sanhedrim.  (Acts  23  :  1-10.)  2.)  Before  the  Roman 
governor  or  procurator  Felix.  (Acts  24:  1-22  .)  3.)  Before  Festus, 
the  successor  of  Felix.  (Acts  25:1-12.)  4.)  Before  Agrippa,  the 
ethnarch  of  the  Bashan  district,  called  by  courtesy  "  King  Agrippa.  " 
(Acts  26:  1-32.) 


The  Church  Among  the  Gentiles  103 

Blackboard  Outline 
Part  Two 


r 

III.  Pau.  Thir.  Miss.  Jour.      (54-58).      Comp.  Tim.  Eras. 

1.  Ant.  to  Eph.     Gal.  Phr. 

2.  Thr.  Ye.  Eph.      Res.      Col.  Hier.      "Sew  Ch.  As." 

3.  Mac.      Gre.    Rev.     Phil.    Thes.     Ber.       (Ath.  ?)     Cor. 

Coll.  for  Jud. 

4.  Ep.  Per.      1)    1  Cor.  Eph.  57.     Tr.  Ch.  Lif.      2.)    2  Cor. 

57.     Mac.      P.  ap.  auth.     3.)  Gal.      Mac.  57.      "Jud. 

tea."     "Salw    fai.  on."     4.)  Rom.    Cor.  58.       "Jus. 
by  fai. " 

5.  Ret.  Jour.     1.)   Ph.     2.)  Tro.  3.)   Vow  Mil.     4.)  Mil. 

5.)   Voy.  Tyr.      6.)    Ptol.      7.)   Cass.     8.)   Jer. 

6.  Pau.  Arr.  &  Imp.     Jer.  Ca^s. 


it- 


Review  Questions,     Part  Two 

Who  were  companions  of  Paul  on  his  third  journey?  From  what  city  did 
he  start?  Through  what  lands  did  he  first  pass?  What  great  city  was  his 
principal  field  of  labor?  In  what  neighboring  cities  did  churches  arise  as  a 
result?  What  provinces  in  Europe,  and  what  cities  in  them,  did  he  revisit? 
What  was  one  of  his  important  errands  on  this  journey?  Who  accompanied 
Paul  on  his  return?  What  letters  were  written  while  Paul  was  on  this 
journey?  Name  the  place  from  which  each  of  these  epistles  was  written.  State 
the  approximate  date  of  each  letter.  What  was  the  purpose  or  theme  of 
each  letter?  Name  some  of  the  places  where  Paul  stopped  on  his  return 
journey.  What  took  place  at  Troas?  What  took  place  at  Miletus?  Whom  did 
Paul  meet  at  Cssarea?  What  was  Paul's  destination?  \Ynat  was  his  purpose 
in  visiting  the  mother  church?  What  happened  to  Paul  at  Jerusalem?  To 
what  place  was  he  afterwards  taken?  How  long  was  he  a  prisoner  in  that 
place? 

Part  Three 

IV.  Paul's  Fourth  Journey  (Acts  27  and  28).  Although  made 
by  a  prisoner,  some  of  the  time  wearing  a  chain  (Acts  26.  29;  28.  20), 
the  journey  to  Rome  was  a  missionary  journey,  in  many  respects 
like  Paul's  other  journeys.  To  visit  Rome  had  long  been  his 
desire  and  expectation  (Acts  19.21.  Rom.  1.  15.  Rom.  15.23,  24). 
His  companions  on  the  journey,  Luke,  Aristarchus  (Acts  27.  1,2), 
and  probably  Timothy. 


104         Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

i.  On  the  voyage  he  was  able  to  bring  the  gospel  to  the  island 
of  Malta  (Acts  28    7-10). 

2.  Arriving  at  Rome  (Acts  28.  16)  he  took  up  his  work  as  nearly 
as  possible  according  to  his  regular  metliod.  1.)  He  found  a.  home 
and  employment  (Acts  28.  16).  2.)  As  he  could  not  go  to  the  syna- 
gogue he  sent  for  the  chief  Jews  and  preached  the  gospel  to  them 
(Acts  28.  17-24).  3.)  He  then  turned  to  the  Gentiles  (Acts  28. 
28-31).     4.)   Some  results  of  his  ministry  in  Rome  (Phil    1.    12-18) 

3.  The  Epistles  of  Paul's  Imprisonment  at  Rome.  The  order  of 
these  is  uncertain,  but  they  belong  rather  to  the  close  of  the  period 
than  to  its  opening. 

1.)     Ephcsians;  called  by  S.  T.  Coleridge  "the  divinest  com- 
position of  man;"  written  A.  D.  62;  its  subject,  "The  mys- 
tical union  of  Christ  and  his  church. " 
2.)      Philip ptans;  the  most  affectionate  of  all  Paul's  letters; 
written  A.  D.  62;  its  subject  "The  character  of  Christ's  fol- 
lowers. " 
3.)     Colossians;  written   to  a  church  that  Paul  had  never  seen; 
about  A.  D.  62;    subject,  "Christ  the  Head  of  the  Church." 
4.)     Philemon:  a  personal  letter  to  a  friend  at  Colossae  concern- 
ing a  runaway  slave  Onesimus,  whom  Paul  sent  back,  "no 
longer  a  slave,  but  a  brother  beloved." 
V.     Paul's  Later   Years.      The  record  is  uncertain,  and   almost 
unknown.      It  is  probable,  though  not  certain,  that  Paid  was  set 
free  about  63  A.  D. 

1.  His  years  of  liberty.  63  to  67  A.  D.  Shall  we  speak  of  a 
fifth  journey ?  We  find  hints  or  expectations  of  his  being  at  Colossae 
(Philem.  22) ;  Miletus  (2  Tim.  4.  13) ;  Nicopolis,  north  of  Greece,  on 
the  Adriatic  Sea  (Titus  3.  12).  Tradition  states  that  at  this  place 
he  was  arrested,  and  sent  from  it  a  second  time  to  Rome. 

2.  His  last  epistles.  It  is  not  certain  that  all  the  "pastoral 
epistles  "  were  written  by  Paul.  1 .)  They  are  unlike  his  other  writ- 
ings in  their  style.  2.)  His  doctrinal  views  are  not  prominent  in 
them.  Yet  on  the  whole,  they  show  a  reasonable  probability  of 
Paul's  authorship. 

1.)  Eirst  Timothy  was  written  during  the  period  of  liberty, 
between  63  and  66  A.  D.,  as  a  book  of  counsels  to  a  minister, 
Timothy,  in  charge  of  the  church  at  Ephesus. 


The  Church  Among  the  Gentiles  105 

2.)     Titus,  about  the  same  time  and  for  the  same  purpose;    to 

Titus,  in  charge  of  churches  on  the  island  of  Crete. 
3.)     Second  Timothy,  from  Rome,  during  Paul's  second  and 
last  imprisonment;  a  letter  of  farewell  counsels  to  his  "son 
Timothy."     Strictly  speaking  this  book  should  be  named 
under  the  next  subject. 
VI.      The    First    Imperial    Persecution.      The    Christians    were 
becoming  numerous  in  Rome,  as  well  as  throughout  the  empire; 
and  a  conflict  was  sure  to  arise  with  the  Roman  government.     The 
first  persecution  came  soon  after  the  burning  of  Rome,  A.  D.  64, 
which  Nero  charged  falsely  upon  the  Christians.     Thousands  were 
put  to  death,  although  the  persecution  was  mainly  limited  to  the 
capital.     The  martyrdom    of  St.  Paul,  probably  of   St.  Peter  also, 
took  place  about  68  A.  D.  at  Rome. 

Blackboard  Outline 

Part  Three 


* 

IV.     Pau.  Fou.  Jour.     Pris.      Comp.  Lu.  Aris.  Tim. 

1.  Gos.  Mai. 

2.  Ro.      1.)  Ho.  Emp.     2.)   Sent.    Ch.    Je.     3.)    Tur.  Gen. 
4.)    Res.  min. 

3.  Ep.  Pau.  Imp.  1.)  Eph.  "Mys.  Un.  Ch.  and  Ch.-' 
2.)  Phil.  "Char.  Chr.  fol. "  3.)  Col.  "Chr.  Hea.  Ch. " 
4.)    Philem.  Run.  Sla. 

V.     Pau.  Lat.  Ye.      1.  Yea.  Lib.  Col.  Mil.   Nicop.   2.     Las. 

Ep.      1.)    1   Tim.      2.)   Tit.     3.)     2.  Tim. 
VI.     Fir.  Imp.  Per.     Mart.  Pau.  68  A.  D. 
& * 

Review  Questions.     Part  Three 

Under  what  circumstances  did  Paul  make  his  fourth  journey?  Who  were  his 
companions?  Where  did  he  preach  the  gospel  on  his  journey?  How  did  he 
follow  his  regular  method,  as  far  as  possible,  at  Rome  ?  What  were  some 
results  of  his  ministry  in  Rome?  What  epistles  were  written  at  Rome?  What 
is  the  subject  of  these  epistles?  How  long  was  Paul  at  liberty  after  his  first 
imprisonment?  What  places  did  he  probably  visit  during  those  years?  What 
were  the  last  three  epistles  written  by  Paul?  What  is  the  subject  of  each 
epistle?  How  did  the  first  imperial  persecution  of  the  Christians  arise?  Who 
probably  suffered  martyrdom  at  this  time? 


EIGHTEENTH     STUDY 

The  End  of  the  Age 

From    the   Death  of   St.  Paul,  A.  D.  68,  to  the   Death  of  St.  John, 

ioo  A.  D. 

Part  One 

Wc  come  now  to  our  last  period,  an  age  of  shadows,  of  which  we 
know  very  little,  and  wish  that  we  knew  more.  The  curtain  of  New 
Testament  history  falls  while  St.  Paul  is  still  a  prisoner  at  Rome, 
five  years  before  the  supposed  date  of  his  death.  From  that  time, 
A.  D.  63,  to  about  A.  D.  125  there  is  very  little  history,  and  none  in 
the  New  Testament ;  we  are  left  to  hints,  traditions,  and  conjectures. 

A  question  which  we  would  like  to  answer  is,  What  became  of 
the  companions  of  St.  Paul:  such  men  as  Timothy  (Heb.  13.  23), 
Titus  (2  Tim.  4.  10),  Apollos  (Titus  3.  13),  Luke  (2  Tim.  4.  11)? 
All  of  these  were  living  and  working  at  the  close  of  Paul's  life;  but 
there  is  no  report  of  their  life  and  labors  after  that  event. 

Another  perplexing  fact  is  that  when  the  curtain  rises  at  about  125 
A.  D.  it  shows  us  a  very  different  church  from  that  of  St.  Paul's  day: 
a  church  completely  organized,  with  bishops  in  almost  absolute 
control;  and  sects  quarreling  over  controversies  apparently 
unknown  when  St.  Paul  wrote  his  letters. 

While  Peter  and  Paul  were  living  the  church  had  wise  and  states- 
manlike leaders,  who  directed  its  energies.  But  when  these  gnat 
men  died  "second-rate  men"  were  left  in  control  and  they  were  not 
equal  to  the  demand  of  the  new  time;  and  the  church  drifted  into 
disputes,  which  grew  into  divisions.  Let  us  notice  the  few  known 
Events  of  this  Period. 

I.  The  Fall  of  Jerusalem:  epoch-making,  not  only  to  Jewish  but 
also  to  Christian  history. 

1.  The  rebellion  of  the  Jews  against  the  Roman  power  began  in 
68  A.  D. ;  hopeless  from  the  beginning — for  how  coidd  one  small  state 
measure  swords  with  the  empire  of  the  civilized  world?  The  city 
of  Jerusalem  was  taken  and  destroyed  70  A.  D.,  and  with  it  fell  for- 
ever the  Jewish  state. 


The  End  of  the  Age  107 

2.  The  siege  had  been  predicted  in  the  gospels  (Matt.  24.  15-18; 
Mark  13.  14),  and  was  expected  by  the  disciples  of  Christ.  The 
Christians  in  Jerusalem  and  Judea  withdrew  to  Pella  in  the  Jordan 
valley;  but  their  numbers  were  not  large,  showing  that  Jewish  Chris- 
tianity must  have  declined  since  A.  D.  58  (see  Acts  21.  20),  while 
Gentile  Christianity  had  increased.  After  the  destruction  of  Jer- 
usalem Jewish  Christianity  remained  for  200  years  a  feeble  and 
declining  sect,  hated  by  their  own  people  as  traitors,  and  despised 
by  Gentile  Christians  because  they  still  observed  the  Jewish  law. 

3 .  The  effect  of  the  fall  of  Jerusalem  was  to  draw  a  sharp  line  of 
division  between  Jews  and  Christians.  Before,  the  two  classes  had 
been  closely  related,  and  confused  in  the  popular  mind.  Thence- 
forth the  two  streams  ran  further  and  further  apart,  and  have  con- 
tinued apart  even  to  our  own  time.  All  Jewish  rites  ceased  in  the 
church,  Christians  could  no  longer  be  Jews;  and  after  125  A.  D. 
Jews  could  no  longer  be  Christians  without  renouncing  Judaism. 
The  church  was  now  thoroughly  a  Gentile,  non-Jewish  church. 
Note  in  the  gospel  of  John  how  "the  Jews"  are  everywhere  named 
as  enemies  of  Christ  (John  5.  16;  7.  1;  11.  8;  18.  36);  and  yet  the 
author  of  this  book  was  himself  a  Jew  by  birth  and  training;  but 
at  the  time  of  writing  he  had  ceased  to  be  a  Jew. 

II.  St.  John  at  Ephesus.  Ephesus,  at  the  western  end  of  Asia 
Minor,  was  now  the  leading  city  of  Christianity.  It  is  probable  that 
the  apostle  John  passed  the  last  thirty  years  of  his  life  in  that  city. 
He  was  revered  as  the  last  of  the  apostles;  but  he  was  not  a  states- 
man or  man  of  affairs;  rather  a  mystic  and  man  of  meditation.  It 
is  supposed  that  he  died  about  100  A.  D.  but  the  date  is  not  certain. 

III.  The  Rise  of  the  Heresies.  1.  This  was  the  inevitable 
result  of  the  Greek  mind  working  on  the  simple  doctrines  of  the  gospel. 
The  Christian  doctrine  was  Jewish;  and  the  Jewish  mind  was  not 
given  to  subtle  intellectual  questions.  But  when  Christianity  ceased 
to  be  Jewish  and  began  to  Gentile  it  was  dominated  by  the  Greek 
spirit  of  restless  inquiry.  Asia  Minor  was  the  home  of  wild,  uncon- 
trolled thinking.  Sects  almost  without  number  appeared,  wrangled , 
and  divided  over  every  article  of  the  creed.  The  more  mysterious 
the  question,  the  more  apart  from  practical  life  and  from  human 
interest,  the  more  fascinating  became  the  studv. 

2.      Two    great  classes  of  sects  embraced    many  minor  groups. 


io8         Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

i.)  The Ebionites.  Strict  Jews,  who  sought  to  make  Christianity  a 
branch  of  Pharisaism,  keeping  the  Jewish  law.  2.)  The  Gnostics. 
People  with  peculiar  views  concerning  the  nature  of  God,  heavenly 
beings,  the  nature  of  Christ. 

3.  The  results  of  these  controversies  were  both  good  and  evil.  1 .) 
Good  in  that  the  clashing  of  ideas  aided  in  fixing  in  permanent  form 
the  true  doctrines  of  the  church.  2.)  But  far  more  evil;  for  the  ener- 
gies of  the  members  were  absorbed  in  debate  and  controversy; 
the  spiritual  life  of  the  church  greatly  declined;  the  aim  ceased  to 
be  devotion  to  Christ,  but  was  now  orthodoxy  in  belief.  Chris- 
tianity became  a  creed,  instead  of  an  inner  spiritual  life. 

IV.  The  Second  Imperial  Persecution;  under  the  emperor  Dom- 
itian,  son  of  Titus,  about  A.  D.  95.  This  was  far  more  widely 
extended  than  the  former  persecution  under  Nero;  and  it  was 
followed  by  a  long  series  of  persecutions,  wherein  untold  thousands 
of  Christians  were  put  to  death.  The  inevitable  conflict  had  come 
between  Christianity  and  the  Roman  empire,  and  it  lasted  two  hun- 
dred years;  but  at  its  close  the  cross  was  triumphant  over  the 
Roman  eagles.     It  is  not  difficult  to  see  the  causes  of  this  struggle: 

1 .  Heathenism  was  hospitable,  welcoming  new  gods  and  goddesses, 
while  Christianity  was  exclusive,  opposing  with  all  its  might  every 
other  form  of  worship. 

2 .  Idol-worship  and  its  services  were  interwoven  Avith  all  the  life  0} 
the  people;  personal,  family,  social,  political.  Temples,  statues, 
festivals  were  constantly  in  evidence;  on  all  occasions  there  were 
rites  of  worship.  But  here  was  a  growing  multitude  of  people 
who  stood  aloof  from  these  exercises.  It  was  not  strange  that 
these  people  were  regarded  as  enemies  of  society  and  of  the  state. 

3.  Certain  forms  of  religion  were  allowed  in  the  Roman  empire, 
but  all  new  forms  were  forbidden.  Judaism  was  a  permitted  relig- 
ion. As  long  as  Christianity  was  looked  upon  as  a  branch  of  Juda- 
ism, it  was  allowed.  But  after  the  fall  of  Jerusalem  it  stood  alone, 
an  unlicensed  form  of  worship,  hence  under  suspicion;  suspicion 
readily  becoming  enmity. 

4.  The  worship  0}  the  emperor  was  the  one  most  prevalent 
throughout  the  empire.  A  statue  of  the  reigning  emperor  stood  in 
every  city,  and  it  was  a  test  of  loyalty  to  offer  libations  of  incense 
before  it.      This  worship   is  doubtless  referred  to  in  an  enigmatic 


The  End  of  the  Age  109 

manner  in  such  passages  as  2  Thess.  2.  3,  4.  Rev.  13.  i,  4",  8,  18. 
This  worship  was  refused  by  the  Christians,  who  were  for  that  reason 
regarded  as  disloyal. 

From  these  causes  persecution  after  persecution  arose ;  hundreds 
of  thousands  perished;  yet  in  spite  of  the  persecution,  the  church 
grew  rapidly. 

Blackboard  Outline 

Part  One 
►£<- — * 

En.  Ag.     Ag.  shad.      Comp.  Paul.      Diff.   Ch.    125    A.  D. 

"Sec.  ra.  m. 

I.     Fa.  Jer.      1.)   Reb.  A.  D.   68-70.      2.)    Siege   pred.   Chr. 

with.  Pel.     3.)    Eff.  div.  Je.  Chr. 

II.     Jhn.  Eph.     Last.  Ap.  100  A.  D. 

III.  Ris.  Her.  1.  Gre.  min.  2.  Eb.  Gnos.  3.  Res. 
1.)  G.     2.)   Ev. 

IV.  Sec.  Imp.  Per.  Dom.  95.  Caus.  1.  Heath,  hosp.  2.  Id. 
wor.  int.  li.  3.  Jud.  per.  rel.  Chr.  unlic.  4.  Wor. 
Emp. 

Review    Questions 

What  is  said  of  the  period  after  the  death  of  St.  Paul?  Between  what  years 
is  there  very  little  history?  What  companions  of  St.  Paul  were  living  at  the 
time  of  his  death  ?  What  became  of  these  men  ?  Wherein  was  the  church  of 
a  later  period  different  from  that  of  the  earlier  time?  What  reason  is  assigned 
for  these  changes?  Name  the  four  principal  events  in  the  period  under  con- 
sideration. When  did  the  rebellion  of  the  Jews  against  the  Roman  empire 
begin?  What  was  the  result  of  this  rebellion?  What  became  of  the  Christians 
in  Jerusalem  at  the  opening  of  the  Jewish  war?  What  was  the  after  history 
of  Jewish  Christianity?  What  was  the  effect  of  the  fall  of  Jerusalem  on  the 
relations  between  Christianity  and  Judaism?  Who  was  the  last  of  the  twelve 
apostles  on  the  earth?  Where  did  he  live?  What  was  his  character?  What 
is  said  as  to  his  death?  What  divisions  in  the  church  arose  at  this  period? 
Of  what  were  these  divisions  the  result?  What  country  was  the  home  of  the 
heresies?  Who  were  the  Ebionites?  Who  were  the  Gnostics?  What  good 
result  came  from  these  controversies?  What  evil  result  followed  them?  What 
persecution  arose  during  this  period?  At  what  time?  Under  what  emperor 
did  the  persecution  begin?  How  did  it  compare  with  the  earlier  persecution 
under  Nero?  What  general  causes  may  be  given  for  the  series  of  imperial 
persecutions  of  the  Christians?  Wherein  was  heathenism  hospitable,  and 
Christianity  exclusive?  How  was  idolatry  interwoven  with  the  affairs  of  life? 
How  was  this   fact   adverse   to   the   Christians?      How   did    Christianity  come   to 


no         Outline  Studies  in  the  New  Testament 

be  looked  on  with  suspicion  in  the  empire?  How  did  the  worship  of  the 
emperor  affect  the  Christians?  What  is  this  worship  called  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment?    Did  these  persecutions  stop  the  progress  of  the  church? 

Part  Two 
Let  ns  ci  insider  the  condition  of  the  church  at  the  end  of  the  first 
century,  seventy  years  after  the  Ascension  <>f  our  Lord. 

1.  Its  Numbers  cannot  be  definitely  stated;  but  the  church  was 
very  large,  and  growing  with  marvelous  rapidity.  Sources  of 
information  :  i .)  The  catacombs;  cemeteries  under  and  around  Rome 
where  Christians  only  were  buried,  and  wherein  they  met  in  times 
of  persecution;  occupied  between  ioo  and  400  A.  D.;  containing  in 
three  centuries  two  million  graves  of  Christians.  2.)  A  letter  of 
Pliny,  Roman  governor  of  Bithynia-Pontus  in  Asia  Minor,  112 
A.  D.,  stating  that  "the  temples  were  almost  deserted,"  "an 
incredible  number  of  professors.  "  Evidences  point  to  the  church, 
A.  D.  100,  having  already  a  large  proportion  of  the  population  of 
the  Roman  empire. 

II.  Its  Membership.  1.  Once  the  church  had  been  entirely 
Jewish;  then  it  became  Jewish  and  Gentile;  now  it  was  almost 
everywhere  a  Gentile  church,  with  a  few  Jewish  members,  most  of 
whom  had  abandoned  Jewish  rites  and  rules  and  were  regarded 
by  the  Jews  as  "apostates. 

2.  ltsso<  ial  condition  was  varied.  It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that 
at  any  time  the  early  church  was  composed  mainly  of  slaves  and 
the  poorest  classes.  Such  there  were;  but  there  were  also  men  of 
wealth,  of  high  rank,  and  of  great  influence.  There  is  reason  to 
believe  that  some  relatives  of  the  emperor,  previous  to  100  A.  D. 
were  banished  on  account  of  their  Christian  profession.  The  gospel 
had  by  this  time  permeated  all  classes. 

III.  Its  Organization.  We  observe  in  this  respect  a  remarkable 
change  since  the  period  of  St.  Paul's  ministry.  Everywhere  the 
church  was  hardening  into  an  ecclesiastical  system  ruled  by  bishops. 
Bishops  are  first  mentioned  late  in  St.  Paul's  ministry  (Acts  20.  28; 
Rev.  Ver.  Phil.  1.  1;  1  Tim.  3.  1-7);  but  it  is  evident  that  the 
word  at  that  time  meant  no  more  than  "elder;"  otherwise  the  elders 
of  Ephesus  would  not  have  been  called  "bishops"  in  Acts  20.28.  But 
in  an  autocratic  state  the  church  would  naturally  become  auto- 
cratic in  its  arrangement,  ruled  from  above  rather  than  from  below. 
By  125  A.  D   bishops  were  in  control  everywhere. 


The  End  of  the  Age  hi 

IV.  Its  Institutions.  Two  of  these  require  notice,  i.  The 
Lord's  Supper.  We  have  seen  how  this  began  as  a  service  in  the 
home,  like  the  Jewish  Passover,  out  of  which  it  grew  (Acts  2.  46). 
But  among  Gentile  churches  the  custom  arose  of  celebrating  it  at 
a  public  meeting,  as  a  supper  to  which  each  member  brought  some 
share  of  provision.  See  1  Cor.  11.  20-30,  an  account  of  abuses 
that  had  arisen.  By  the  end  of  the  first  century  the  supper  had 
become  a  service  held  at  the  meeting  place  of  the  Christians,  but  not 
in  public.  All  except  members  of  the  church  were  axcluded  from 
this  service,  whioh  was  held  as  a  "mystery." 

2 .  The  Lord's  Day.  The  observance  of  the  first  day  of  the  week 
grew  graduallv,  and  with  its  growth  the  recognition  of  the  Jewish 
sabbath  declined.  Note  the  development  indicated  in  1  Cor.  16.  2  ; 
Acts  20.  7;  Rev.  1.  10.  As  the  church  became  entirely  a  Gentile 
institution  "the  Lord's  day"  took  the  place  of  the  Jewish  sabbath. 

V.  Its  Doctrinal  System.  The  theology  of  St.  Paul,  as  set  forth 
in  Romans  and  Ephesians,  was  now  accepted  as  the  doctrine  of  the 
church.  Notice  that  St.  Peter  (1  Pet.  1.  18-21)  states  the  great 
Pauline  principle  of  justification  by  faith  through  the  blood  of 
Christ. 

VI.  Its  Literature.  By  100  A.  D.  all  the  books  of  the  New  Test- 
ament were  written,  though  not  all  of  them  were  everywhere 
accepted  as  authoritative.  In  some  places  there  were  questions 
about  Hebrews,  2  Peter  and  Revelation  ;  the  latter  because  local 
in  its  address,  and  so  recent  in  origin  as  not  to  be  known  every- 
where. But  the  gospels  (except  John,  which  was  about  95  A.  D.  in 
its  date) ,  the  Acts  and  nearly  all  the  epistles  were  read  in  all  the 
churches  as  possessing  an  inspired  authority.  Note  that,  in  2 
Peter,  Paul's  writings  are  placed  on  a  par  with  "the  other  Scrip- 
tures," which  must  refer  to  the  Old  Testament. 

VII.  Its  Spiritual  Life.  It  must  be  admitted  that  there  had 
been  a  decline  in  the  fervency  of  the  Christian  life  in  the  church. 
Its  moral  standards  were  still  high;  but  spiritual  gifts  had  become  less 
noticeable;  the  rule  of  bishops  and  councils  and  the  controversies 
over  doctrines  were  weakening  the  fervor  of  spirituality.  Note 
the  difference  in  spirit  and  tone  between  the  writings  of  the  New 
Testament  and  those  of  the  early  church-fathers  in  the  second 
century. 


ii2  Outline  Studies  in  theNew  Testament 


Blackboard  Outline 

Part  Two 
* 


Cond.  of  Ch.  ioo  A    D. 

I. 

Num.      i.)   Cat.      2.)    Let.  Plin. 

II. 

Mem.     i.)  Gen.  few  Je.     2.)   Soc.  cond.  all  class. 

III. 

Org.      Ecc.  Sys.  ru.  b.  Bisb. 

IV. 

Inst,     Lor.  Sup.     Lor.  D. 

V. 

Doc.  Sys.     Theo.  Pau. 

VI 

Lit.     N.  T. 

VII. 

Spir.  Lif.     Dec 

1 M 

Review  Questions.     Part  Two 

What  is  the  estimate  of  the  number  of  members  in  the  church  at  the  end 
of  the  first  century?  What  evidence  of  this  is  found  in  the  Catacombs  of 
Rome?  What  evidence  is  given  by  a  letter?  Who  wrote  this  letter,  and  when 
was  it  written?  Was  the  church  at  this  time  Jewish  or  Gentile?  What  was 
the  relation  of  Jewish  believers  to  the  church?  Of  what  social  elements  was 
the  church  composed?  How  was  the  church  organized  at  this  time?  What 
references  to  "bishops"  are  found  in  the  New  Testament,  and  what  do  they 
indicate?  How  did  the  bishops  grow  to  be  rulers  in  the  church?  What  two 
institutions  of  the  church  are  referred  to?  How  was  the  Lord's  Supper 
observed  in  the  earliest  church  ?  What  changes  arose  in  the  method  of 
administration?  How  did  the  first  day  of  the  week  come  to  be  recognized 
in  the  church?  What  was  the  doctrinal  system  of  this  time?  What  was  the 
literature  of  the  church?  What  books  were  at  first  questioned?  What  was 
the  spiritual  condition  of  the  church  as  compared  with  earlier  periods?  What 
may  have  caused  the  decline  in  spiritual   fervor? 


The  End 


T  H  K 


OF 


Ten  Minute  Series. 

Supplemental  Lessons 

FOR  

The  Sunday  School, 

HO^-A-ltfTTS    IB.    HITCHCOCK. 


THE  necessity  of  some  instruction  in  the  Bible  in  order  to  supply  the 
deficiencies  which  are  unavoidable  to  any  system  of  uniform  lessons, 
is  realized  in  every  Sunday  school.     The  International  Lessons  can 
only  give  detached  portions  of  Scripture,  and  a  supplemental  lesson  must 
be  added  to  impart  a  general  knowledge  of  the  book  as  a  whole. 

The  full  course  of  study  includes  five  series  of  lessons,  adapted  to  be 
used  in  auy  denomination. 

I.  The  Life  of  Jesus. 

II.  Studies  about  the  Bible. 

III.  Bible  Geography. 

IV.  Bible  History. 

V.    History  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Two  additional  series  of  special  interest  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  have  been  prepared,  namely: 

VI.  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
VII.  Government  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

These  lessons  are  arranged  for  use  as  graded  studies  for  scholars  ten 
years  of  age  and  upward. 

Each  series  contains  thirty-six  lessons,  which  can  easily  be  learned  in 
the  course  of  a  year,  even  if  the  study  be  suspended  during  the  summer 
mouths. 

Sample  Set,  7  numbers,  35  cents. 
Price  of  each,  per  dozen,  50  cents ;  by  mail,  59  cents. 


New  York:  EATON  &  MAINS.  Cincinnati:  JENNINGS  &  GRAHAM. 


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WU^O^i 


By  I>IRS.  !*I.  G.  KENNEDY. 


1.  Introductory,  the  Bible.  2.  The  Child  and  the  Man.  3.  The  Chosen  Twelve. 
4.  rii.;  Spreading  Gospel  Light.    5.  Teaching  by  Parables.    6.  A  Little  Talk 
with  Jesus.   7.  l  he  Last  Week.    8.  Resurrection  and  Ascension. 
Each,  2  cents.    The  eight  numbers  for  10  cents. 

TALKS  ABOUT  THE  BIBLE  STORY. 
By  MRS.  M.  C.  KENNEDY. 

I.  The  Man.  From  the  Creation  to  Abraham.  2.  The  Family.  From 
Abraham  to  the  Golne  Out  from  Egypt.  3.  The  Nation.  From  Exodus  to  its 
First  knur.  4.  The  Kingdom.  From  the  First  King  of  the  Land  to  the  Last 
King.  6.  The  Province.  Prom  the  Captivity  to  Christ.  6.  The  Christ.  From 
the  l'.irth  ol  Christ  to  the  Ascension.  7.  The  Church.  From  the  Ascension  to 
Paimos. 

Each,  2  centa.    The  seven  numbers  for  10  cents. 


New  York:  EATON  &  MAINS. 


Cincinnati :  JENNINGS  &  GRAHAM. 


